In Re Amber B.

In this case we hold that the psychological technique of detecting child sexual abuse by observing the child's behavior with anatomically correct dolls and analyzing the child's reports of abuse constitutes a new scientific method of proof, and therefore is admissible in court only upon a showing that the technique has been generally accepted as reliable in the scientific community in which it was developed.

Ron B. appeals from an order declaring his daughters Amber and Teela to be dependent children of the juvenile court (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 300). We reverse.

A petition filed by the Solano County Department of Social Services (Department) alleged that Ron had sexually molested three-year-old Amber and that one-year-old Teela was at risk of sexual abuse. At the hearing on the petition the Department presented testimony by a psychologist, Dr. Henry Raming, who had examined Amber on three occasions. Over Ron's objection, the court permitted Dr. Raming to testify that, in his opinion, Amber had been sexually molested and she believed she had been molested by her father.

Dr. Raming's opinion was based on two factors. The first was the nature of Amber's reports…