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Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) and SIDS News related items
At least half of all parents tried over shaken baby syndrome have been wrongly convicted, expert warns
30 April 2011Eleven years ago, Lorraine Harris stood trial at Nottingham Crown Court charged with manslaughter. Although described as a woman of good character and a careful and caring mother, she was accused of shaking her four-month-old baby Patrick to death two years earlier. Neuropathologist Dr Squier wrote a report for the prosecution saying that the child was the victim of shaken baby syndrome (SBS). ... ‘I now believe that half or even more of those who have been brought to trial in the past for SBS have been wrongly convicted. It is a frightening thought.’ It is indeed, and it is an extraordinary claim but one that should be taken seriously. Dr Squier, 63, is the most experienced paediatric neuropathologist in the country. She has spent 30 years researching baby brains and has a solid international reputation. Read rest of story here: http://www.whale.to/a/at_least.html Fractures believed to be child abuse may be metabolic bone disease
May 3, 2011Pediatric Academic Societies’ Annual Meeting 2011 New data suggest that metabolic bone disease, not child abuse, may be the cause of multiple unexplained fractures in some infants. “Classic metaphyseal lesions, posterior rib fractures and fractures in different stages of healing are thought to be pathognomonic for child abuse,” researchers wrote. “However, we believe these findings can also be seen in metabolic bone disease of infancy.” ... “Careful review of the X-rays with attention to the predisposing factors that can impair fetal and infant bone mineralization is critical to avoid an erroneous diagnosis of child abuse,” they wrote. “We do not believe that most [classical metaphyseal lesions] are fractures, but rather are regions of non-mineralized osteoid in healing [metabolic bone disease in infancy].” Read rest of story here: http://endocrinetoday.com/view.aspx?rid=83202 |