“Confusing Juries with Science”
Dr. Waney Squier presents a TED talk about what she experienced when she dared to challenge the paper thin foundations of Shaken Baby Syndrome. When the English doctor’s research led her to testify against Shaken Baby Syndrome in court, officials revoked her medical license as punishment.
Police, striving to achieve a certain number of convictions instead of seeking the truth, accused her of “confusing juries with science.” Now, Squier shares her plea to institutions of medicine and law around the world to let the objective truth of science speak:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5FyTFs7P7U&feature=youtu.be
Confessions: Not Always What They Seem
Many proponents of SBS theory base their claims on the evidence of confessions. While this may seem reasonable, (after all, who would confess to something as terrible as child abuse if they were innocent?) the reality of what these "confessions" often entail is unsettling. Jesus Flores was 19 when his son Mason went limp and stopped breathing. Doctors found bleeding on the 2 month old's brain, and settled on shaken baby – ignoring the fact that Mason had a difficult birth and vitamin deficiency.
In the interrogation video, a devastated Jesus demonstrates safely rocking his baby in his arms the way any parent does to soothe or burp a newborn. Proponents of SBS theory agree such gentle methods are not enough to produce the violent forces they believe necessary to create brain bleeding – yet much of the research on SBS relies on confessions to bolster their claims. Hardly a scientific method. Today, despite being acquitted after two years behind bars, Jesus's parental rights have been terminated. His now two year old son is being adopted and not allowed to return to his own mother. Read more of Jesus’s story here, and view his confession video for yourself here.
U of M Publishes Articles from 2015 Child Abuse Symposium
University of Michigan’s Journal of Law Reform has published a series of articles from the 2015 symposium, Child Abuse Evidence: New Perspectives from Law, Medicine, Psychology and Statistics. Featuring speakers such as Dr. Patrick Barnes, Dr. Peter Aspelin, Katherine Judson and more, it covers topics ranging from false confessions to medical imaging.
Katherine Judson from the University of Wisconsin L"aw School offers a thoughtful discussion on the bias and subjectivity often used to convict caregivers of child abuse: “Bias, Subjectivity, and Wrongful Conviction". The entire collection of papers presented at the symposium provides an excellent resource, and can be found here.
MI Public Act 843 Provides Compensation to Wrongly Convicted
Great news for exonerated Julie Baumer, a victim of a false SBS accusation, as a Michigan act to compensate wrongly convicted individuals finally goes into effect. It is uplifting to see progress being made towards justice: http://tinyurl.com/TornFamily009
Important Shaken Baby Syndrome Paper Released
The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment has released an English translation of their findings on the scientific veracity of using the “triad” of symptoms in diagnosing Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). This research concludes that the scientific evidence used to diagnose SBS is insufficient and of very low quality. Many have been imprisoned after using this “insufficient and very low quality” evidence in courtrooms.
The full report can be found at http://tinyurl.com/TornFamily008
Let’s hope this extensive research is used to prevent further wrongful imprisonments.
SEEK JUSTICE
Michigan Court of Appeals Denies Motion
On November 1, 2016, the Michigan Court of Appeals denied Joshua Burns’ appeal – ruling that he did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel and the trial court did not err. The University of Michigan’s Innocence Clinic will continue this fight with an appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. That appeal will be filed by the end of December. As we have indicated in the past, this will be a long battle, and the Burns family is nowhere near being out of the fight.
In very positive news, last month Sweden took a major stand against the traditional diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services, an independent national government agency of scientists, just concluded a two-year study noting limited evidence that the triad (bleeding on the brain and eyes, and brain swelling) proves that violent shaking took place. They list many other conditions and diseases that can cause these same symptoms. When this report is available in English, we will post a link to it here on TornFamily.com.
Continued support for Josh and Brenda Burns is appreciated, as well as the many other families that are suffering from false child abuse allegations and convictions.
SEEK JUSTICE
Grant Awarded to Michigan Innocence Clinic
The Michigan Innocence Clinic has been awarded a grant of almost $250,000 by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Grant will be used for such things as hiring experts to review Shaken Baby Syndrome Cases. Read the full article here.
SEEK JUSTICE
Another Hasty Diagnosis
The parents of twins Jonathan and Jarayha Wolf are yet one more family that was torn apart when their son's health difficulties resulted in death - and the triad. Read the full story at The Daily Beast.
Voodoo Science Found In the Courtroom
Often it is difficult for a juror to get past the idea that an “expert” testifying in front of them may not be using proven forensic science. Doctors are trustworthy and scientist are…well… scientific right?
A newly released report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology concluded that the forensic evidence techniques used for DNA, fingerprints, bitemarks, firearms, footwear, and hair analysis all exhibit scientifically flawed methodology. This Wall Street Journal review of the study opines that bitemark analysis is about as reliable as astrology.
While the report did not study Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) directly, it did call for “urgent attention” to examine the scientific validity of evidence used in SBS cases. Let’s hope this call will translate into action as many people convicted of SBS through flawed forensic science continue to languish in prisons.
SEEK JUSTICE
Opportunity to Show Support: U of M Board of Regents Meeting
Opportunity to Show Support: U of M Board of Regents Meeting
What: The Board of Regents consists of elected officials who supervise and administer the massive budget for the University of Michigan, including their health system.
Dr. Douglas Smith will address the Board of Regents regarding an editorial in which a U of M professor calls for attacks against those who challenge the opinions of child abuse pediatricians.
Melissa Geers and Rebecca Campos-Santana, who have both been affected by hasty and improper diagnoses by such child abuse pediatricians, will also be speaking.
When: Thursday, September 15, 2016, at 3 p.m.
Where: U of M Michigan Union Building, Anderson Room – 530 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
Parking: In addition to limited meter street parking (bring quarters), there are nearby public parking garages.
Shirts: If you have a red “Seek Justice” shirt, please wear it on this day. We will also have some extra shirts available if you have not received one yet.