I’m a mother a grandmother a pathologist and a scientist and I want to tell you
and a scientist and I want to tell you
and a scientist and I want to tell you Linda’s story Linda and James had a baby
Linda’s story Linda and James had a baby
Linda’s story Linda and James had a baby boy called Tom he was Linda’s third baby
boy called Tom he was Linda’s third baby
boy called Tom he was Linda’s third baby and when he was about four months old
and when he was about four months old
and when he was about four months old she was alone with him one night I think
she was alone with him one night I think
she was alone with him one night I think many of you may have looked after young
many of you may have looked after young
many of you may have looked after young children at some time your own children
children at some time your own children
children at some time your own children or grandchildren or when babysitting or
or grandchildren or when babysitting or
or grandchildren or when babysitting or sometimes you feel alone with them well
sometimes you feel alone with them well
sometimes you feel alone with them well this particular night James is working
this particular night James is working
this particular night James is working and Linda became concerned about Tom’s
and Linda became concerned about Tom’s
and Linda became concerned about Tom’s breathing so she phoned her doctor and
breathing so she phoned her doctor and
breathing so she phoned her doctor and she said I woke up to give him his feed
she said I woke up to give him his feed
she said I woke up to give him his feed and I found he wasn’t breathing
and I found he wasn’t breathing
and I found he wasn’t breathing not until I picked him up and lifted him
not until I picked him up and lifted him
not until I picked him up and lifted him out of his cot and then he was fine and
out of his cot and then he was fine and
out of his cot and then he was fine and he’s right as rain now but the doctor
he’s right as rain now but the doctor
he’s right as rain now but the doctor decided to visit anyway he found Linda a
decided to visit anyway he found Linda a
decided to visit anyway he found Linda a calm and experienced mother he examined
calm and experienced mother he examined
calm and experienced mother he examined baby Tom who had a mild fever and was a
baby Tom who had a mild fever and was a
baby Tom who had a mild fever and was a bit snuffly but he found nothing in us
bit snuffly but he found nothing in us
bit snuffly but he found nothing in us and he concluded there’s nothing
and he concluded there’s nothing
and he concluded there’s nothing seriously wrong so he left but there was
seriously wrong so he left but there was
seriously wrong so he left but there was something wrong because an hour later
something wrong because an hour later
something wrong because an hour later Linda found Tom unconscious he wasn’t
Linda found Tom unconscious he wasn’t
Linda found Tom unconscious he wasn’t breathing he had no pulse so she called
breathing he had no pulse so she called
breathing he had no pulse so she called an ambulance and he was rushed to
an ambulance and he was rushed to
an ambulance and he was rushed to hospital and put on a life-support
hospital and put on a life-support
hospital and put on a life-support machine a consultant paediatrician
machine a consultant paediatrician
machine a consultant paediatrician examined Tom and found he had bleeding
examined Tom and found he had bleeding
examined Tom and found he had bleeding in the retin that was the membrane at
in the retin that was the membrane at
in the retin that was the membrane at the back of the eyes a brain scan showed
the back of the eyes a brain scan showed
the back of the eyes a brain scan showed he had a thin film of blood in the dura
he had a thin film of blood in the dura
he had a thin film of blood in the dura the membrane that surrounds the brain
the membrane that surrounds the brain
the membrane that surrounds the brain and the brain was swollen he had just
and the brain was swollen he had just
and the brain was swollen he had just those three things nothing else but 24
those three things nothing else but 24
those three things nothing else but 24 hours later tom was dead and Linda was
hours later tom was dead and Linda was
hours later tom was dead and Linda was arrested and charged with killing her
arrested and charged with killing her
arrested and charged with killing her baby at a trial Linda was described as a
baby at a trial Linda was described as a
baby at a trial Linda was described as a woman of good character a caring and
woman of good character a caring and
woman of good character a caring and careful mother she said she’d done
careful mother she said she’d done
careful mother she said she’d done nothing to harm Tom but she couldn’t
nothing to harm Tom but she couldn’t
nothing to harm Tom but she couldn’t explain why he’d collapsed but doctors
explain why he’d collapsed but doctors
explain why he’d collapsed but doctors medical experts said that those three
medical experts said that those three
medical experts said that those three findings meant that Tom must have been
findings meant that Tom must have been
findings meant that Tom must have been violently shaken sometime after the
violently shaken sometime after the
violently shaken sometime after the doctor had left the house the
doctor had left the house the
doctor had left the house the amenda guilty and she was sentenced to
amenda guilty and she was sentenced to
amenda guilty and she was sentenced to three years in prison a few years later
three years in prison a few years later
three years in prison a few years later she appealed and her conviction was
she appealed and her conviction was
she appealed and her conviction was overturned so she’s been innocent all
overturned so she’s been innocent all
overturned so she’s been innocent all along her name was cleared but her life
along her name was cleared but her life
along her name was cleared but her life was ruined her parents had died and
was ruined her parents had died and
was ruined her parents had died and James had left her and because she was
James had left her and because she was
James had left her and because she was in prison when tom was buried nobody
in prison when tom was buried nobody
in prison when tom was buried nobody told her so she was denied the
told her so she was denied the
told her so she was denied the opportunity of attending her own son’s
opportunity of attending her own son’s
opportunity of attending her own son’s funeral that’s not all while Linda was
funeral that’s not all while Linda was
funeral that’s not all while Linda was on bail awaiting her trial she became
on bail awaiting her trial she became
on bail awaiting her trial she became pregnant and she gave birth to a little
pregnant and she gave birth to a little
pregnant and she gave birth to a little girl Lucy when she was in prison
girl Lucy when she was in prison
girl Lucy when she was in prison Lucy was immediately taken away and
Lucy was immediately taken away and
Lucy was immediately taken away and placed for adoption
placed for adoption
placed for adoption and even when her name was cleared her
and even when her name was cleared her
and even when her name was cleared her conviction overturned Linda was not
conviction overturned Linda was not
conviction overturned Linda was not allowed to make contact with her
allowed to make contact with her
allowed to make contact with her daughter she lost all and now she lost
daughter she lost all and now she lost
daughter she lost all and now she lost Lucy as well this is not a dystopian
Lucy as well this is not a dystopian
Lucy as well this is not a dystopian nightmare this is a true story
nightmare this is a true story
nightmare this is a true story and it’s the story that is repeated
and it’s the story that is repeated
and it’s the story that is repeated day-in day-out all over the world in the
day-in day-out all over the world in the
day-in day-out all over the world in the United States some two-and-a-half
United States some two-and-a-half
United States some two-and-a-half thousand people are in prison five of
thousand people are in prison five of
thousand people are in prison five of them on death row awaiting their
them on death row awaiting their
them on death row awaiting their execution in this country we hear the
execution in this country we hear the
execution in this country we hear the story hundreds of times every year in
story hundreds of times every year in
story hundreds of times every year in our course it’s heard him Sweden in
our course it’s heard him Sweden in
our course it’s heard him Sweden in France in Australia New Zealand and what
France in Australia New Zealand and what
France in Australia New Zealand and what all of these stories have in common is
all of these stories have in common is
all of these stories have in common is that a doctor has made the diagnosis of
that a doctor has made the diagnosis of
that a doctor has made the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome in Linda’s case I
shaken baby syndrome in Linda’s case I
shaken baby syndrome in Linda’s case I was one of those doctors as the
was one of those doctors as the
was one of those doctors as the paediatric neuropathologist I studied
paediatric neuropathologist I studied
paediatric neuropathologist I studied the brains of babies who’ve died
the brains of babies who’ve died
the brains of babies who’ve died hoping to find out why the police asked
hoping to find out why the police asked
hoping to find out why the police asked me to examine Tom’s brain which I did it
me to examine Tom’s brain which I did it
me to examine Tom’s brain which I did it was swollen nothing out of the ordinary
was swollen nothing out of the ordinary
was swollen nothing out of the ordinary but that fitted with what the other
but that fitted with what the other
but that fitted with what the other doctors were saying in this case shaken
doctors were saying in this case shaken
doctors were saying in this case shaken baby syndrome they believed in it and I
baby syndrome they believed in it and I
baby syndrome they believed in it and I believed in it so my report was part of
believed in it so my report was part of
believed in it so my report was part of the evidence that cost Linda so much
what is shaken baby syndrome central to
what is shaken baby syndrome central to it is a young baby who presents with one
it is a young baby who presents with one
it is a young baby who presents with one or more of those three features that Tom
or more of those three features that Tom
or more of those three features that Tom heard known together as the try
heard known together as the try
heard known together as the try of retinal hemorrhages subdural
of retinal hemorrhages subdural
of retinal hemorrhages subdural hemorrhage and a swollen brain remember
hemorrhage and a swollen brain remember
hemorrhage and a swollen brain remember that word triad because I’m going to be
that word triad because I’m going to be
that word triad because I’m going to be using it again there are many causes for
using it again there are many causes for
using it again there are many causes for the triad
the triad
the triad but historically it was associated with
but historically it was associated with
but historically it was associated with trauma now these babies have no evidence
trauma now these babies have no evidence
trauma now these babies have no evidence of trauma they have no head impact no
of trauma they have no head impact no
of trauma they have no head impact no fractures no bruises
fractures no bruises
fractures no bruises so the shaken baby hypothesis depends on
so the shaken baby hypothesis depends on
so the shaken baby hypothesis depends on the assumption that shaking is the cause
the assumption that shaking is the cause
the assumption that shaking is the cause and that shaking can generate enormous
and that shaking can generate enormous
and that shaking can generate enormous forces equivalent to a fall from a
forces equivalent to a fall from a
forces equivalent to a fall from a second-story window or a road traffic
second-story window or a road traffic
second-story window or a road traffic accident and what’s more the shaking
accident and what’s more the shaking
accident and what’s more the shaking event is never witnessed and its effects
event is never witnessed and its effects
event is never witnessed and its effects are almost always immediate so with this
are almost always immediate so with this
are almost always immediate so with this hypothesis it’s easy to identify the in
hypothesis it’s easy to identify the in
hypothesis it’s easy to identify the in the perpetrator it’s the person who was
the perpetrator it’s the person who was
the perpetrator it’s the person who was alone with the baby and to abort him for
alone with the baby and to abort him for
alone with the baby and to abort him for medical care the idea that shaking might
medical care the idea that shaking might
medical care the idea that shaking might cause the triad was first proposed back
cause the triad was first proposed back
cause the triad was first proposed back in the early 70s by a small group of
in the early 70s by a small group of
in the early 70s by a small group of doctors in the United States it wasn’t
doctors in the United States it wasn’t
doctors in the United States it wasn’t based on research studies but on
based on research studies but on
based on research studies but on anecdotal reports an article in Newsweek
anecdotal reports an article in Newsweek
anecdotal reports an article in Newsweek and speculation nobody’s then had ever
and speculation nobody’s then had ever
and speculation nobody’s then had ever witnessed a normal baby being shaken and
witnessed a normal baby being shaken and
witnessed a normal baby being shaken and developed the triad and nobody Hurst to
developed the triad and nobody Hurst to
developed the triad and nobody Hurst to this day so you might be wondering as I
this day so you might be wondering as I
this day so you might be wondering as I did have such a tenuous hypotheses
did have such a tenuous hypotheses
did have such a tenuous hypotheses hypothesis could ever have been accepted
hypothesis could ever have been accepted
hypothesis could ever have been accepted well back then those doctors were deeply
well back then those doctors were deeply
well back then those doctors were deeply concerned that parents might be harming
concerned that parents might be harming
concerned that parents might be harming their babies and absolutely rightly so
their babies and absolutely rightly so
their babies and absolutely rightly so because some parents do so NORs were
because some parents do so NORs were
because some parents do so NORs were introduced across the United States
introduced across the United States
introduced across the United States requiring doctors to report even a mere
requiring doctors to report even a mere
requiring doctors to report even a mere suspicion of abuse failure to do so
suspicion of abuse failure to do so
suspicion of abuse failure to do so could result in prosecution on the other
could result in prosecution on the other
could result in prosecution on the other hand when doctors do report something as
hand when doctors do report something as
hand when doctors do report something as a bit of abuse they granted immunity
a bit of abuse they granted immunity
a bit of abuse they granted immunity from prosecution even if their report is
from prosecution even if their report is
from prosecution even if their report is unfounded or totally false
unfounded or totally false
unfounded or totally false also reports the abuse went from tens to
also reports the abuse went from tens to
also reports the abuse went from tens to hundreds of thousands a year and the
hundreds of thousands a year and the
hundreds of thousands a year and the shaken baby hypothesis grew from an idea
shaken baby hypothesis grew from an idea
shaken baby hypothesis grew from an idea of speculation into a syndrome and that
of speculation into a syndrome and that
of speculation into a syndrome and that syndrome is taught as fact in the
syndrome is taught as fact in the
syndrome is taught as fact in the textbooks and in medical schools
textbooks and in medical schools
textbooks and in medical schools well this was nearly 50 years ago so by
well this was nearly 50 years ago so by
well this was nearly 50 years ago so by now you’re probably thinking that
now you’re probably thinking that
now you’re probably thinking that researchers must have found the evidence
researchers must have found the evidence
researchers must have found the evidence base to support this hypothesis but they
base to support this hypothesis but they
base to support this hypothesis but they haven’t
haven’t
haven’t it wasn’t even tested until 1987 when
it wasn’t even tested until 1987 when
it wasn’t even tested until 1987 when biomechanical studies showed that adults
biomechanical studies showed that adults
biomechanical studies showed that adults shaking a crash-test dummy as long and
shaking a crash-test dummy as long and
shaking a crash-test dummy as long and as hard as they could
as hard as they could
as hard as they could generated only half the forces of her 1
generated only half the forces of her 1
generated only half the forces of her 1 foot fall no that’s not even as much as
foot fall no that’s not even as much as
foot fall no that’s not even as much as a baby rolling off a bed clearly we
a baby rolling off a bed clearly we
a baby rolling off a bed clearly we can’t do these biomechanical experiments
can’t do these biomechanical experiments
can’t do these biomechanical experiments on babies but we can learn by observing
on babies but we can learn by observing
on babies but we can learn by observing the world around us some of you might
the world around us some of you might
the world around us some of you might remember that many years ago we used to
remember that many years ago we used to
remember that many years ago we used to put young babies in forward-facing car
put young babies in forward-facing car
put young babies in forward-facing car seats
seats
seats if those cars were involved in head-on
if those cars were involved in head-on
if those cars were involved in head-on collisions the babies suffered enormous
collisions the babies suffered enormous
collisions the babies suffered enormous whiplash but case studies of those
whiplash but case studies of those
whiplash but case studies of those babies showed they didn’t have didn’t
babies showed they didn’t have didn’t
babies showed they didn’t have didn’t try had they had fractures and
try had they had fractures and
try had they had fractures and dislocations in the neck in 2001 Jenny
dislocations in the neck in 2001 Jenny
dislocations in the neck in 2001 Jenny and Geddes and neuropathologist and
and Geddes and neuropathologist and
and Geddes and neuropathologist and colleague in London showed that the
colleague in London showed that the
colleague in London showed that the brain damage in babies alleged to have
brain damage in babies alleged to have
brain damage in babies alleged to have been shaken was not due to traumatic
been shaken was not due to traumatic
been shaken was not due to traumatic tearing of the nerve fibers of the brain
tearing of the nerve fibers of the brain
tearing of the nerve fibers of the brain as we’re deformed but it’s due to lack
as we’re deformed but it’s due to lack
as we’re deformed but it’s due to lack of oxygen that’s something that seen in
of oxygen that’s something that seen in
of oxygen that’s something that seen in babies dying from all sorts of natural
babies dying from all sorts of natural
babies dying from all sorts of natural conditions and indeed it’s seen in
conditions and indeed it’s seen in
conditions and indeed it’s seen in babies who have collapsed and died who
babies who have collapsed and died who
babies who have collapsed and died who are being nursed on a ventilator right
are being nursed on a ventilator right
are being nursed on a ventilator right baby Tom a few years later brain scans
baby Tom a few years later brain scans
baby Tom a few years later brain scans showed us that almost half of normal
showed us that almost half of normal
showed us that almost half of normal newborn babies have subdural hemorrhage
newborn babies have subdural hemorrhage
newborn babies have subdural hemorrhage a similar number have retinal hemorrhage
a similar number have retinal hemorrhage
a similar number have retinal hemorrhage so two of the cardinal features of
so two of the cardinal features of
so two of the cardinal features of shaken baby syndrome are common in
shaken baby syndrome are common in
shaken baby syndrome are common in normal babies after normal birth these
normal babies after normal birth these
normal babies after normal birth these two findings are also seen in babies
two findings are also seen in babies
two findings are also seen in babies dying from a whole range of natural
dying from a whole range of natural
dying from a whole range of natural conditions as well as minor accidents
conditions as well as minor accidents
conditions as well as minor accidents and low Falls so if we turn to the
and low Falls so if we turn to the
and low Falls so if we turn to the medical literature for evidence to
medical literature for evidence to
medical literature for evidence to support this hypothesis we find it’s
support this hypothesis we find it’s
support this hypothesis we find it’s riddled with errors mostly due to
riddled with errors mostly due to
riddled with errors mostly due to circular logic and poor case definition
circular logic and poor case definition
circular logic and poor case definition at the end of last year an independent
at the end of last year an independent
at the end of last year an independent authority in Sweden published its review
authority in Sweden published its review
authority in Sweden published its review of more than 3,700 papers and found only
of more than 3,700 papers and found only
of more than 3,700 papers and found only two that offered any support to the
two that offered any support to the
two that offered any support to the hypothesis that shaking causes the Triad
hypothesis that shaking causes the Triad
hypothesis that shaking causes the Triad to
to
to nearly 4,000 papers and only two offered
nearly 4,000 papers and only two offered
nearly 4,000 papers and only two offered any support and those two were both
any support and those two were both
any support and those two were both found to be of only moderate scientific
found to be of only moderate scientific
found to be of only moderate scientific quality so today as I stand here I am
quality so today as I stand here I am
quality so today as I stand here I am sure that shaking can harm babies and we
sure that shaking can harm babies and we
sure that shaking can harm babies and we certainly shouldn’t shake babies but
certainly shouldn’t shake babies but
certainly shouldn’t shake babies but nearly 50 years of research has failed
nearly 50 years of research has failed
nearly 50 years of research has failed to provide us with the justification to
to provide us with the justification to
to provide us with the justification to make the assumption that a baby has a
make the assumption that a baby has a
make the assumption that a baby has a triad or any one of its components must
triad or any one of its components must
triad or any one of its components must have been shaken so that leaves us with
have been shaken so that leaves us with
have been shaken so that leaves us with a hypothesis that it seems is not fit
a hypothesis that it seems is not fit
a hypothesis that it seems is not fit for purpose but diagnosis or in the
for purpose but diagnosis or in the
for purpose but diagnosis or in the courts in the courts it gets a bit more
courts in the courts it gets a bit more
courts in the courts it gets a bit more complicated back in 2001 the Geddes
complicated back in 2001 the Geddes
complicated back in 2001 the Geddes research stopped me in my tracks
research stopped me in my tracks
research stopped me in my tracks it wasn’t what I had expected so I read
it wasn’t what I had expected so I read
it wasn’t what I had expected so I read everything I could about shaken baby
everything I could about shaken baby
everything I could about shaken baby syndrome and as a scientist I’m ashamed
syndrome and as a scientist I’m ashamed
syndrome and as a scientist I’m ashamed to admit to you I hadn’t done so before
to admit to you I hadn’t done so before
to admit to you I hadn’t done so before I’d been making this diagnosis on the
I’d been making this diagnosis on the
I’d been making this diagnosis on the basis of my uncritical acceptance of
basis of my uncritical acceptance of
basis of my uncritical acceptance of what was in the textbooks and what I had
what was in the textbooks and what I had
what was in the textbooks and what I had been taught I was startled to learn that
been taught I was startled to learn that
been taught I was startled to learn that there was no scientific foundation with
there was no scientific foundation with
there was no scientific foundation with a hypothesis the triad is merely a
a hypothesis the triad is merely a
a hypothesis the triad is merely a function of immaturity it’s the infant
function of immaturity it’s the infant
function of immaturity it’s the infant brains response to a whole range of
brains response to a whole range of
brains response to a whole range of different conditions so what I had been
different conditions so what I had been
different conditions so what I had been taught was wrong what I believed was
taught was wrong what I believed was
taught was wrong what I believed was wrong and importantly what I had been
wrong and importantly what I had been
wrong and importantly what I had been telling the courts was wrong so I had to
telling the courts was wrong so I had to
telling the courts was wrong so I had to change my mind having given evidence
change my mind having given evidence
change my mind having given evidence with the police in Linda’s first trial
with the police in Linda’s first trial
with the police in Linda’s first trial I gave evidence to support her in her
I gave evidence to support her in her
I gave evidence to support her in her appeal I wasn’t on my own but my voice
appeal I wasn’t on my own but my voice
appeal I wasn’t on my own but my voice was certainly now in a minority but
was certainly now in a minority but
was certainly now in a minority but changing my mind
changing my mind
changing my mind turned the tables on me back then in the
turned the tables on me back then in the
turned the tables on me back then in the criminal courts judges and jurors were
criminal courts judges and jurors were
criminal courts judges and jurors were also questioning the hypothesis and
also questioning the hypothesis and
also questioning the hypothesis and we’re tending to to acquit parents
we’re tending to to acquit parents
we’re tending to to acquit parents accused of shaking their babies but in
accused of shaking their babies but in
accused of shaking their babies but in the family course the courts that decide
the family course the courts that decide
the family course the courts that decide typically behind closed doors where
typically behind closed doors where
typically behind closed doors where their mothers like Linda can keep their
their mothers like Linda can keep their
their mothers like Linda can keep their babies they were ever adamant in their
babies they were ever adamant in their
babies they were ever adamant in their endorsement of the hypothesis so
endorsement of the hypothesis so
endorsement of the hypothesis so very long before I was harshly
very long before I was harshly
very long before I was harshly criticized by Family Court judges
criticized by Family Court judges
criticized by Family Court judges because I was challenging the majority
because I was challenging the majority
because I was challenging the majority view in 2010 a report was made to the
view in 2010 a report was made to the
view in 2010 a report was made to the General Medical Council the doctors
General Medical Council the doctors
General Medical Council the doctors licensing authority on the basis of
licensing authority on the basis of
licensing authority on the basis of those judicial criticisms the complaint
those judicial criticisms the complaint
those judicial criticisms the complaint didn’t come from the judges who made
didn’t come from the judges who made
didn’t come from the judges who made them nor did they pursue any of the
them nor did they pursue any of the
them nor did they pursue any of the avenues available to them to restrict me
avenues available to them to restrict me
avenues available to them to restrict me no complaint came from the police
no complaint came from the police
no complaint came from the police because I was and they said this
because I was and they said this
because I was and they said this actually said I was confusing juries
actually said I was confusing juries
actually said I was confusing juries with science and I was getting in the
with science and I was getting in the
with science and I was getting in the way of them achieving their desired
way of them achieving their desired
way of them achieving their desired rates of conviction in these cases the
rates of conviction in these cases the
rates of conviction in these cases the complaint was not about my evidence when
complaint was not about my evidence when
complaint was not about my evidence when I was a prosecution expert was only
I was a prosecution expert was only
I was a prosecution expert was only about cases where I challenged shaken
about cases where I challenged shaken
about cases where I challenged shaken baby syndrome and my published research
baby syndrome and my published research
baby syndrome and my published research on the subject was never questioned nor
on the subject was never questioned nor
on the subject was never questioned nor was the content of my opinions it was
was the content of my opinions it was
was the content of my opinions it was just the way I expressed them and
just the way I expressed them and
just the way I expressed them and ironically my use of scientific
ironically my use of scientific
ironically my use of scientific literature to support my views
literature to support my views
literature to support my views I faced a six-month hearing and my
I faced a six-month hearing and my
I faced a six-month hearing and my license to practice medicine was
license to practice medicine was
license to practice medicine was suspended I was struck off I appealed
suspended I was struck off I appealed
suspended I was struck off I appealed and my license was restored but I was
and my license was restored but I was
and my license was restored but I was banned from giving evidence in the
banned from giving evidence in the
banned from giving evidence in the courts for three years all of this has
courts for three years all of this has
courts for three years all of this has had a profound effect on the delivery of
had a profound effect on the delivery of
had a profound effect on the delivery of justice back in 2005 Linda had seven
justice back in 2005 Linda had seven
justice back in 2005 Linda had seven medical experts to support her today she
medical experts to support her today she
medical experts to support her today she would be likely to have none experienced
would be likely to have none experienced
would be likely to have none experienced highly qualified doctors are afraid to
highly qualified doctors are afraid to
highly qualified doctors are afraid to become expert witness isn’t challenge
become expert witness isn’t challenge
become expert witness isn’t challenge the hypothesis
the hypothesis
the hypothesis for fear of suffering the same thing as
for fear of suffering the same thing as
for fear of suffering the same thing as me instead prosecution experts are
me instead prosecution experts are
me instead prosecution experts are emboldened and today cases are routinely
emboldened and today cases are routinely
emboldened and today cases are routinely decided on the basis of such candice
decided on the basis of such candice
decided on the basis of such candice opinions as it’s generally considered or
opinions as it’s generally considered or
opinions as it’s generally considered or most doctors believe that shaking causes
most doctors believe that shaking causes
most doctors believe that shaking causes the triad
the triad
the triad these are articles of faith they have no
these are articles of faith they have no
these are articles of faith they have no scientific foundation science is not a
scientific foundation science is not a
scientific foundation science is not a democracy scientific fact is determined
democracy scientific fact is determined
democracy scientific fact is determined by experiment by observation not by how
by experiment by observation not by how
by experiment by observation not by how many people happen to believe one
many people happen to believe one
many people happen to believe one both assists or another but today these
both assists or another but today these
both assists or another but today these opinions are unlikely to meet any
opinions are unlikely to meet any
opinions are unlikely to meet any significant challenge and this leaves
significant challenge and this leaves
significant challenge and this leaves families defenseless against unfounded
families defenseless against unfounded
families defenseless against unfounded allegations of abuse what can we do
allegations of abuse what can we do
allegations of abuse what can we do there are two things firstly at the
there are two things firstly at the
there are two things firstly at the point of initial contact when a baby
point of initial contact when a baby
point of initial contact when a baby with the triad or any part of it is
with the triad or any part of it is
with the triad or any part of it is brought to hospital the medical care we
brought to hospital the medical care we
brought to hospital the medical care we must have in place as standard a
must have in place as standard a
must have in place as standard a protocol for the complete and rigorous
protocol for the complete and rigorous
protocol for the complete and rigorous medical family and social assessment of
medical family and social assessment of
medical family and social assessment of every case and look for all of the
every case and look for all of the
every case and look for all of the causes of the Dryad getting it wrong at
causes of the Dryad getting it wrong at
causes of the Dryad getting it wrong at this initial stage means that parents
this initial stage means that parents
this initial stage means that parents are assumed to be guilty and have to
are assumed to be guilty and have to
are assumed to be guilty and have to prove their innocence which is the
prove their innocence which is the
prove their innocence which is the complete reversal of the burden of proof
complete reversal of the burden of proof
complete reversal of the burden of proof of our legal system getting it right at
of our legal system getting it right at
of our legal system getting it right at this stage means that we will identify
this stage means that we will identify
this stage means that we will identify the treatable causes of the triad and we
the treatable causes of the triad and we
the treatable causes of the triad and we can get on with treating them and save
can get on with treating them and save
can get on with treating them and save these babies lives if we do find
these babies lives if we do find
these babies lives if we do find evidence of violence and abuse then we
evidence of violence and abuse then we
evidence of violence and abuse then we can be stringent in our prosecution of
can be stringent in our prosecution of
can be stringent in our prosecution of offenders and increase the rates the
offenders and increase the rates the
offenders and increase the rates the conviction of the real child abusers if
conviction of the real child abusers if
conviction of the real child abusers if we don’t find evidence of violence abuse
we don’t find evidence of violence abuse
we don’t find evidence of violence abuse we can save the emotional and the
we can save the emotional and the
we can save the emotional and the financial burden of unnecessary
financial burden of unnecessary
financial burden of unnecessary prosecutions sometimes there will be no
prosecutions sometimes there will be no
prosecutions sometimes there will be no clear diagnosis and doctors must not be
clear diagnosis and doctors must not be
clear diagnosis and doctors must not be afraid to say clearly and unequivocally
afraid to say clearly and unequivocally
afraid to say clearly and unequivocally I don’t know the second place where
I don’t know the second place where
I don’t know the second place where something must be done concerns the
something must be done concerns the
something must be done concerns the courts and we that’s all of us we must
courts and we that’s all of us we must
courts and we that’s all of us we must demand an inquiry so we can see what is
demand an inquiry so we can see what is
demand an inquiry so we can see what is happening in these cases particularly
happening in these cases particularly
happening in these cases particularly behind the closed doors of the Family
behind the closed doors of the Family
behind the closed doors of the Family Division these courts have the power to
Division these courts have the power to
Division these courts have the power to impose draconian sentences the
impose draconian sentences the
impose draconian sentences the separation of a baby from his mother is
separation of a baby from his mother is
separation of a baby from his mother is a life sentence for that baby it’s a
a life sentence for that baby it’s a
a life sentence for that baby it’s a life sentence for his mother it’s the
life sentence for his mother it’s the
life sentence for his mother it’s the life sentence for his father for his
life sentence for his father for his
life sentence for his father for his siblings it’s the life sentence that
siblings it’s the life sentence that
siblings it’s the life sentence that every member of the family is it right
every member of the family is it right
every member of the family is it right that decisions of such gravity should be
that decisions of such gravity should be
that decisions of such gravity should be made in secret hidden from public
made in secret hidden from public
made in secret hidden from public scrutiny and accountability is it right
scrutiny and accountability is it right
scrutiny and accountability is it right that in an area of Medicine which has
that in an area of Medicine which has
that in an area of Medicine which has become
become
become controversial an opinion so polarized
controversial an opinion so polarized
controversial an opinion so polarized that these courts in order to save money
that these courts in order to save money
that these courts in order to save money should appoint a single doctor as the
should appoint a single doctor as the
should appoint a single doctor as the expert to represent both sides of the
expert to represent both sides of the
expert to represent both sides of the argument is it night that a doctor whose
argument is it night that a doctor whose
argument is it night that a doctor whose views are entrenched in the belief
views are entrenched in the belief
views are entrenched in the belief system should go unchallenged
system should go unchallenged
system should go unchallenged unquestioned by his peers no the courts
unquestioned by his peers no the courts
unquestioned by his peers no the courts must hear the scientific dissent on
must hear the scientific dissent on
must hear the scientific dissent on shaken baby syndrome fully and fairly
shaken baby syndrome fully and fairly
shaken baby syndrome fully and fairly these courts must be open justice must
these courts must be open justice must
these courts must be open justice must be seen to be done otherwise it is not
be seen to be done otherwise it is not
be seen to be done otherwise it is not justice if we do nothing then ordinary
justice if we do nothing then ordinary
justice if we do nothing then ordinary people people have already suffered the
people people have already suffered the
people people have already suffered the tragedy of the death of a baby will
tragedy of the death of a baby will
tragedy of the death of a baby will continue to have their families torn
continue to have their families torn
continue to have their families torn apart by incorrect and unscientific
apart by incorrect and unscientific
apart by incorrect and unscientific opinions mothers might Linda go to
opinions mothers might Linda go to
opinions mothers might Linda go to prison and babies like Lucy suffer
prison and babies like Lucy suffer
prison and babies like Lucy suffer forced adoption on the basis of belief
forced adoption on the basis of belief
forced adoption on the basis of belief this lies at the feet of the medical
this lies at the feet of the medical
this lies at the feet of the medical profession who have forgotten the
profession who have forgotten the
profession who have forgotten the fundamental principle of medicine first
fundamental principle of medicine first
fundamental principle of medicine first do no harm by ignoring the science and
do no harm by ignoring the science and
do no harm by ignoring the science and adopting an unproven hypothesis doctors
adopting an unproven hypothesis doctors
adopting an unproven hypothesis doctors have done great harm and have led the
have done great harm and have led the
have done great harm and have led the courts astray if we do nothing this
courts astray if we do nothing this
courts astray if we do nothing this travesty will continue this travesty of
travesty will continue this travesty of
travesty will continue this travesty of the willful refusal of the courts and
the willful refusal of the courts and
the willful refusal of the courts and the doctors advising them to recognize
the doctors advising them to recognize
the doctors advising them to recognize the science that shows they are wrong
the science that shows they are wrong
the science that shows they are wrong will continue if we do nothing they will
will continue if we do nothing they will
will continue if we do nothing they will continue to do harm to innocent babies
continue to do harm to innocent babies
continue to do harm to innocent babies and their families thank you for
and their families thank you for
and their families thank you for listening
listening
listening [Applause]
”
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