[New post] UN-CONVICTING THE INNOCENT THE CASE FOR SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME REVIEW PANELS

New post on Medical Misdiagnosis Research UN-CONVICTING THE INNOCENT THE CASE FOR SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME REVIEW PANELS by medicalmisdiagnosisresearch University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform Spring 2012 UN-CONVICTING THE INNOCENT: THE CASE FOR SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME REVIEW PANELS By: Rachel Burg   Introduction On October 15, 2010, Julie Baumer was finally able to breathe as a free woman.1 Seven years earlier, on October 3, 2003, her nephew, Philipp Baumer, was admitted to Children's [...] Read more of this post medicalmisdiagnosisresearch | June 28, 2012 at 8:12 am | Categories: UN-CONVICTING THE INNOCENT THE CASE FOR SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME REVIEW PANELS | URL: http://wp.me/pIlqJ-14Q Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://medicalmisdiagnosisresearch.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/un-convicting-the-innocent-the-case-for-shaken-baby-syndrome-review-panels/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

Child abuse bill concerns parents

Written by

Jonathan Starkey

The News Journal

DOVER — A bill to broaden Delaware’s child-abuse laws unanimously cleared a House committee Thursday – but not before parents loudly voiced concerns that the legislation could outlaw spanking. The Department of Justice, which is backing Senate Bill 234, says parental discipline still would be protected elsewhere in the code.

That assurance is not enough for some parents. “I think the Legislature’s intent with this bill is very clear,” said Tyler Hogan, a Dover-area father with two young daughters, and another on the way.

“The concern is that the language is vague. I don’t want my wife to feel like she has to close the blinds around the house before she administers discipline.”

The bill creates three tiers of child abuseunder Delaware law, carves out special protection for children with disabilities and broadens language over what qualifies as abuse.

In the most controversial passage, “physical injury” is defined as “any impairment of physical condition or pain.” That wording has some parents crying foul over inappropriate government intrusion into parental discipline.

Supporters of the bill say it’s necessary to tighten definitions of child abuse to catch cases that slip through the cracks. Deputy Attorney General Patricia Dailey Lewis, head of the Justice Department’s Family Division, said prosecutors often lose or don’t bring abuse cases because they can’t prove “substantial pain,” often a burden of proof under current law.

“We drafted this bill after so much trouble with regards to effective prosecution of children who have been physically and sexually abused,” Lewis said. “I hope this doesn’t become a cause célèbre for an organization that thinks the state is out to prevent their parenting.”

The bill was passed unanimously last week in the Senate, where it was shepherded by its prime sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Patricia Blevins, D-Elsmere. Blevins suggested she might support an amendment to clarify the “pain” passage. “This bill was never about discipline or any of these issues,” Blevins said.

Lewis said the Justice Department would not likely support an amendment, calling it a “solution in search of a problem.”

With less than a full week left in the current General Assembly session, the legislation now heads to the full House for consideration.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at 324-2832,
on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.

Truth, Lies and Confessions - CBC

The interrogation-room confessions that led to the convictions of Russell Williams and Terri-Lynne McClintic for their horrific and high profile crimes earned high praise for the Ontario Provincial Police, and especially for interrogator Staff Sgt. Jim Smyth. But outside the glare of the media spotlight, concerns are being raised about the aggressive methods employed by Canadian police forces, and whether the interrogation techniques they use are eliciting confessions from the innocent, as well as the guilty. Two Canadians who confessed to crimes they did not commit speak out in this exclusive report by Joe Schlesinger of CBC News.

http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/truthliesandconfessions/

Friends of Barlett woman push for clemency

By Mike Riopell

SPRINGFIELD — Supporters of a Bartlett woman convicted in 1999 of shaking a baby to death gathered in front of the Illinois Capitol Saturday morning to ask Gov. Pat Quinn to review her case and grant her clemency.

Former day care worker Pamela Jacobazzi's backers say new science around shaken baby syndrome and evidence not presented at her first trial point to her innocence. She's being helped by the Illinois Innocence Project, based at the University of Illinois Springfield.

“The theory that she was convicted with has been discredited since then,” said Jacobazzi attorney Anthony Sassan.

In 1999, a jury found Jacobazzi guilty of first-degree murder in the 1995 death of 2-year-old Matthew Czapski. She was charged with shaking the child in August of 1994, and he remained in a coma until 1995, when he died.

Now, though, supporters say that jury was never told about evidence that the child had medical conditions that could have been mistaken as shaken baby syndrome. In addition to asking Quinn for clemency, a hearing in Jacobazzi's case is scheduled for November, where her attorneys hope to get a new trial.

Jacobazzi's sister, Vita Giessler, told reporters she trusted her sister with her own children.

“She did the baby-sitting,” she said. “She did the swimming with them.”

Jacobazzi is serving at Lincoln Correctional Center, with a projected parole date in 2015, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections website.

Asked about the case Friday, a spokeswoman for Quinn didn't comment.

But DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin pushed back against the effort.

“We will try our case in a court of law, where we expect to contradict the defense's new theory through the presentation of evidence and the cross examination of expert witnesses,” Berlin said in a statement. “This case will not be tried in the media or the court of public opinion. My office stands by the conviction and the jury's finding of guilt.”

At Saturday's news conference in support of Jacobazzi, Michelle Weidner of Peoria talked about being accused of child abuse and later vindicated. A CT scan of her young child appeared to show a skull fracture, raising questions of abuse. It was later discovered that her child moved slightly during the scan, creating a blurred image.

“It was, in fact, nothing,” she said.

Daily Herald staff writer Josh Stockinger contributed to this story.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120623/news/706239868/

Vitamin D 'should be added' to more food

Updated: 16:07, Monday June 11, 2012

Vitamin D should be added to more Australian and New Zealand foods to prevent widespread insufficiencies, a conference on Tuesday will be told.
About 30 per cent of the Australian population has low levels of vitamin D, which is mostly absorbed through the skin after exposure to direct sunlight.
It is found to a lesser extent in some foods, including fish and eggs.
The key nutrient helps to distribute calcium from food throughout the body.
But with one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, it's difficult for Australians to absorb the recommended amount without increasing their skin cancer risk, Deakin University researcher Caryl Nowson said.
Vitamin D levels often dive in people living in southern states including Tasmania and Victoria, and New Zealand, in winter, she said.
Ms Nowson said for this reason, Australia and New Zealand should follow the lead of countries like Canada and add more vitamin D to the food supply.
Canada has fortified milk and margarine with vitamin D for 35 years to reduce rickets - a debilitating bone disease in children.
'We should be considering that for Australia,' Ms Nowson told AAP.
Vitamin D must be added to Australian margarine but fortification is voluntary for milk, yoghurts and cheese.
Ms Nowson said studies had shown that boosting vitamin D levels could prevent falls and fractures in the elderly and improve mortality rates.
Vitamin D has more recently been linked to a host of diseases including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Ms Nowson said most human cells had a vitamin D receptor, which explained the vitamin's widespread association with disease.
A symposium in Melbourne on Tuesday will discuss whether Australia and New Zealand should introduce more vitamin D into foods, and if so, what would be the best foods to fortify.
Migrant communities are often more susceptible to vitamin D deficiencies, so this would need to be taken into account when selecting which foods to fortify, Ms Nowson said.
People with dark skin require longer periods of daylight to absorb enough vitamin D.
A recent Australian study of children with vitamin D deficiency rickets found the majority of sufferers - 75 per cent - were refugee children.
About 60 per cent were African-born and half the parents of the children were Sudanese.
Ms Nowson said only a small amount of vitamin D was needed to prevent rickets.
'That's why having a small amount in the food supply is going to reduce the incidence of rickets,' she said.
A study of more than 11,000 Australian men and women found 31 per cent of the population were vitamin D deficient, but only four per cent had a moderate to severe deficiency.
Women had much higher levels of deficiency - 39 per cent, compared to 22 per cent of men.

http://www.skynews.com.au/health/article.aspx?id=759836&vId=

The breastfeeding mother: Breast milk as a biomarker?

Posted on June 25, 2012 by John Cannell, MD

It just never made sense to me, 40 years ago, when my professors at UNC School of Medicine casually announced human breast milk contained no vitamin D.
“How can that be? How can that possibly be? That makes no sense,” I thought. “Was primitive man supposed to give their infants vitamin D pills that didn’t even exist?”
I have written before about biomarkers, such as:

• How high does your vitamin D level have to be to maximally suppress parathyroid hormone?
• How high does your vitamin D level have to be to maximally improve calcium absorption?
•  How high does your vitamin D level have to be to prevent abnormal bones?

The answer to these questions varies from 20 ng/ml to 40 ng/ml, depending on what study you decide to quote. But what about breast milk as a biomarker? Infants need vitamin D for strong bones and general development. Without vitamin D, the infant can develop rickets. In the 21^st century, this is treatable in a clinic. In the wild, the tribe may have left a screaming baby with soft bones at the wayside.

How high does the breastfeeding mom’s vitamin D level need to be for her infant to get natural vitamin D levels? This level is a biomarker because it gives us insight on how high vitamin D levels were for species survival. If the breastfeeding mom couldn’t supply vitamin D to the infant, our species may not have survived. Whatever vitamin D level that might be, that would be the level humans evolved to have.
Professors Wagner and Hollis and colleagues did an elegant randomized controlled trial 6 years ago that we have covered before, but it should be covered often. They simply gave two different doses of vitamin D to nursing mothers and measured the vitamin D levels of their infants and mothers. They used a small sample of breast feeding women, giving half the women a prenatal vitamin (containing 400 IU) and the other half a prenatal vitamin plus an extra 6,000 IU/day of vitamin D.
The suckling infants of the mothers given only the prenatal were also given 300 IU of vitamin D directly (it would have been unethical to deprive any of the infants of vitamin D). They noted no side effects with any dose, but the 6,000 IU/day arm of the study answered my 40-year-old question.
Wagner CL, Hulsey TC, Fanning D, Ebeling M, Hollis BW. High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in a cohort of breastfeeding mothers and their infants: a 6-month follow-up pilot study. Breastfeed Med. 2006 Summer;1(2):59-70.
The 6,000 IU/day dose of vitamin D did three things.

1. It gave the mothers natural vitamin D levels (50 ng/ml or close to).
2. It transformed breast milk into a rich source of vitamin D.
3. It gave suckling infants natural blood levels of vitamin D (45 ng/ml).

Given this, if you are now breast-feeding and not taking vitamin D, then I hope you are giving your infant at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends. If you want your infant to start getting their vitamin D from your breast milk, I recommend the following steps:

1. Take a loading dose of 10,000 IU/day for a month.
2. After one month on 10,000 IU/day, stop supplementing your infant with vitamin D as your breast milk should now be filled with vitamin D.
3. Take 6,000 IU/day maintenance dose thereafter, except on days you get full body sun exposure.

However — and this is important — when the breastfeeding stops, you need to start supplementing your child again, as the AAP recommends, unless the child is in the sun enough to have adequate levels, and very few are.
I’d like to reiterate, can you think of a better biomarker for how much vitamin D humans need?

• “How much vitamin D do human breast–feeding mothers have to take to transform their breast milk into an adequate source of vitamin D for their infants?”

This is a great biomarker question, one essential to the survival of our species. The answer is 50 ng/ml, which can be achieved by 6,000 IU/day for breastfeeding mothers.
Further reading:

• Taylor SN, Wagner CL, Hollis BW. Vitamin D supplementation during lactation to support infant and mother. J Am Coll Nutr. 2008 Dec;27(6):690-701. Review.

About John Cannell, MD

Dr. John Cannell is founder of the Vitamin D Council. He has written many peer-reviewed papers on vitamin D and speaks frequently across the United States on the subject. Dr. Cannell holds an M.D. and has served the medical field as a general practitioner, itinerant emergency physician, and psychiatrist.

View all posts by John Cannell, MD →

 

http://blog.vitamindcouncil.org/2012/06/25/the-breastfeeding-mother-breast-milk-as-a-biomarker/ 

Vitamin D Deficiency Be Mistaken For Child Abuse As Parents Are Accused

January 28, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Could the rising cases of rickets and Vitamin D deficiency be mistaken for child abuse as parents are accused of harming their children?

Parents are being wrongly accused of abuse because of an undiagnosed  epidemic of rickets among very young children, scientists claim.

Cases of the illness, which is caused by a lack of vitamin D, have soared in the past decade due to poor diet and lifestyle habits.

In very young children, the condition leads to their bones breaking very easily and can also trigger fatal bleeds in the brain.

Scientists from Sheffield Children’s Hospital and London’s Barts hospital believe that parents are mistakenly being accused of hurting or shaking babies whose injuries were actually caused by rickets.

Last month, the parents of Jayden Wray were cleared of murder at the Old Bailey after their son, who died at four months from head injuries, was found to have had the illness. It was discovered that his mother, who was 16 when he was born, had a severe vitamin D deficiency that would have been passed to him, causing injuries that led to his death.

Dr Marta Cohen, of Sheffield Children’s Hospital, said it was likely that many children suffering from rickets had wrongly been placed into foster homes because their parents had been suspected of abuse.

She told BBC Radio 4: ‘If you have bones that fracture easily they will fracture with any normal movement. Like trying to put a babygrow on a baby, you will twist the arm.

Source: UK Daily Mail

One could argue as many do, that a mother who has not taken care of her health while pregnant and breast feeding as well as parents feeding a bad diet to a child and not encouraging regular exercise is in itself child abuse.  This shows there needs to be much more education on Vitamin D deficiency, rickets and preventative measures to take.

You Stole Her Heart A Gripping Look into the Department of Human Services

By Joseph Snook
Investigative Reporter

This is an exposé on the Department of Human Services (DHS) and how they stripped three young children from their mother. This article will reflect on how it was done under the auspice of “keeping the children safe.” The tactics DHS used, the rights they abused, the evidence they created and the evidence they simply turned a blind-eye towards is something every mother and father should be aware of. This is a - “Gripping Look into the Department of Human Services.”
When it comes to the safety of children, and their well-being, it is very important to understand that some families endure problematic events that present circumstances where action needs to be taken. Sometimes, removing children from parent(s) to protect everyone in the family is a necessary decision. Sometimes it is not, and this is when the US~Observer gets involved…
As an investigative reporter, I have witnessed many examples of government agencies that don't always do the right thing. For many reasons, the interests of certain government agencies can potentially alter government employees intentions. Sadly, for Amber Caitlin Parker, her three young children have been “stolen by DHS.”
DHS Background – From DHS:

“At any given time, Oregon's DHS can have up to 9,000 children in their system, at a cost of up to $27,000.00 per child annually.” --Margaret Carter, Deputy Director, Oregon Department of Human Services

“The 1971 Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Department of Human Resources, an agency providing a spectrum of human services to individuals, families and communities.
“The 2001 Oregon Legislature reorganized the department and changed its name to the Oregon Department of Human Services. In 2009 the Oregon Legislature transferred many of the health related functions to the newly created Oregon Health Authority. Today, the Department of Human Services key functions serve children, adults and families and seniors and people with disabilities.”

“They Stole My Heart”
--Amber Caitlin Parker

Amber Caitlin Parker (Duran)

Albany, OR - After years of abuse endured during two separate intimate relationships, Amber Parker found herself alone, supporting her three young children. Amber's life was threatened on more than one occasion by her former boyfriend David Boatright, father of her oldest child.
Michael Duran, father of Amber's two youngest children and currently married (divorce has been filed) to Amber, had also reportedly threatened and attempted to take her life numerous times.
David Boatwright's criminal history as described in a psychological report, which reflects on DHS documents produced by former DHS employee Kimberly Williams, shows that he has an extensive criminal record. Williams' report didn't differentiate between charges and convictions wherein the crimes included Assault I, Attempted assault of a public safety officer in 2011, Assault IV/Domestic Violence in 2008, Domestic Abuse/Harassment in 2007, Harassment in 2007, Assault/Harassment in 2006, Criminal Mischief II in 2006, Criminal Mischief II in 2007 and Menacing in 2005. Williams wrote that Boatright has a history of alcohol and drug abuse and domestic violence. It was confirmed according to documents obtained that Boatright would submit to random UA's and anger management/domestic violence batterer's programming. No information was obtained that confirmed whether or not these courses were completed. This reporter attempted to communicate with Mr. Boatright after a recent full review hearing, but was unable to make contact.
Michael Duran's criminal history was described in a psyche exam, which reflected on a report also produced by Kimberly Williams of DHS. His record reflected: "forcible entry", likely burglary in August of 2000, Possession of Controlled Substance (PCS) in 2002, Open Container in 2002, DUII in 2003, PCS in 2004, Assault IV in 2005, Attempt to elude in 2008. Convictions were for Assault IV, DUII, and attempt to elude. It is somewhat unclear which of these "charges" and "convictions" may have represented the same instances. Further inquiry into Duran's criminal history revealed the following: Parole violation on 11/10/11, Burglary I, PCS in 2005, Manufacture of Rock Cocaine, Felony drug possession 2005, felony drug possession 2006, Child neglect 1st degree 2005, Endangering welfare 2005, Contempt of court 2004. Duran is currently awaiting trial on reported Assault charges against Amber Caitlin Parker (police reports were used in our findings). Mr. Duran was contacted by this reporter and stated that, he was, “Advised not to talk to any reporters.” He further stated that, “He would be willing to talk, once everything was over.”
“I think PTSD played a factor in the following months after this whole thing started, Still I flinch when guys move too quickly if I don't trust them - which is most of them, or when they raise their voice.”
-- Amber Parker
Reported text messages sent from Duran to Amber stated that he would “paint her house in red with her blood.” In the fairly small community of Albany Oregon, one former neighbor of Duran's stated, “His father was in prison for murder, and he has many family members who are into drugs and violence. Michael Duran is probably the worst Duran I know of.”

Amber's bruises, "after one of their arguments," referring to Michael Duran.

“Michael and I were arguing (I think about his partying), we were in our bedroom next to the bed, he lifted me up by my neck about 6 inches - 1 foot off the ground and held me against the wall. When he let go about 5-10 seconds later, I almost fell onto our (at the time 2-3 week old) son. I put my hands down to stop myself from landing on him. My neck was very sore and I couldn't turn my head to the right for several days afterwards. I had 3 small bruises on the right side of my neck, and still have a ‘lump’ that sticks out a little bit.”
– Amber Parker
According to police reports, Duran “choked Amber and kicked her in the stomach” just months after she gave birth to their child and threw her out of a moving automobile, then attempted to “run her over.” Duran spent a total of ten months in prison for this and was released in October of 2009. After his release, Amber, apparently naive at the time, wanted to give their family a second chance. Her attempts failed and Duran allegedly continued to abuse her. Amber has since filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order against Duran, issued on December 16, 2011. Duran was recently indicted by a Grand Jury on Feb. 22, 2012 and is awaiting trial for assault IV, felony domestic violence charges. The trial is reportedly set for sometime in August as of this publication.
Amber has claimed many things according to documents from DHS. She has claimed that someone had broken into her house and attempted to poison her children, that they were coming in through the closet and attic. Another report stated that Boatright was drilling holes in her roof to “spy on her.”
They were very strange accusations, but when you look into the issues surrounding them and the domestic abuse that Amber suffered, it's surprising that she has been able to maintain her composure throughout this process. DHS documents claim that Amber was either using drugs or was a paranoid schizophrenic. She was battered, DHS!
On or around November 4, 2011, David Boatright was given custody of Amber's oldest son. On or around November 14, 2011, Amber's two youngest children were officially placed in foster care. At that time, she reportedly volunteered to do whatever she could to get her children back. Amber was referred by DHS to a Psychologist that they often use. Amber underwent a comprehensive psychological exam given by James A. Ewell, Ph.D. in Eugene Oregon. Ewell's report stated, “In addition to information gathered through the procedures mentioned above, I also received background data from Ms. Williams' letter of referral. Accompanying that letter Ms. Williams forwarded additional documents describing Ms. Duran's history, behaviors and contact with agency workers. These materials were briefly reviewed PRIOR to my meeting with her.” Strangely enough, Ewell's diagnosis apparently fell in line with what DHS had presumed... He stated that, “I do not believe Amber would currently be able to safely parent/protect her children, if they were returned to her care. She should be evaluated for the possible use of psychotropic medications. She probably also could benefit from supportive psychotherapy. She should continue to submit random urinalysis screenings...” While reading Ewell's entire report, I found parts of it repetitive and similar to what I had read from DHS reports.
Shortly after her children were taken, Amber obtained the help of the US~Observer. Amber was very skeptical of Ewell's report. She was strongly opposed to using psychotropic drugs, which Ewell suggested, and therefore unwilling to comply with a report she adamantly disagreed with.
Amber subsequently obtained an independent psychological exam from a well known psychologist out of Portland, Oregon.
This second exam was conducted by Frank Colistro Ed. D. (Ed. D. is a Doctor of Education Degree, equivalent to a professor or lecturer at the university level). Colistro found that Amber had similar findings resulting from similar tests given by Ewell, although Colistro's report seemed less repetitive and much more thorough to this reporter. Colistro stated, “Overall, results of this assessment do not support Dr. Ewell's diagnosis of Schizophrenia or any other form of mental illness, nor are there any indications of a substance abuse problem.”
Colistro also stated that Amber's findings were, “supportive of the appellation of Battered Women's Syndrome...”

Two different psychological exams produced two different conclusions

What would you do if you were beaten by the father of your child? What would you do if your life was threatened constantly? What if you were almost intentionally ran over by an automobile driven by your husband? What if you were choked, beaten, had your finger broken, and were constantly attacked and verbally assaulted? What if you were told that your house was going to be painted red with your own blood? What if you were kicked in the stomach? What if your ex's had such extensive rap sheets as reported in this article? What would you do if the people you looked up to for help, reportedly disregarded your claims and ultimately used them against you, then stole your children? What if the people who were supposed to help you, failed to understand that you were the victim of extreme domestic violence? What if the help they offered required UA's instead of treatment for domestic abuse? What if the help you were ridiculed for not accepting, required the use of psychotropic drugs?
One thing is clear to this writer: Amber has taken numerous parenting courses, she has removed herself from the presence of her exes. She has obtained restraining orders against her exes, she has filed for divorce from Duran, and has been doing all she can to get her children back. She has reportedly undergone 20 clean UA's (one was reportedly inconclusive due to a prescription she was taking at that time) and she has NO CRIMINAL HISTORY WHATSOEVER. Amber has a perfect record, minus a couple traffic citations. According to one psyche exam, "Amber has made substantial efforts to grow and learn in the area of parenting. Although not employed, she involves herself in productive, pro-social activities such as volunteering for the Humane Society and staying active in her church."
What would you do if you were subjected to this kind of treatment? What if you were told your children were possibly going to be placed in foster care permanently?
At a recent full review hearing, this writer communicated with DHS employee David Purcell.
Mr. Purcell, Julia Blackburn's (case worker assigned) supervisor, filled in for her at the hearing. Mr. Purcell expressed that he could not communicate with the press, but was willing to listen. Mr. Purcell was given this writers contact phone number and was asked to give it to his supervisor. Mr. Purcell was also informed of Amber's willingness to cooperate with DHS, given they were willing to accept her position regarding the psychological exams. It was surprising to see Mr. Purcell not only do the right thing during the hearing, but his willingness to listen was a trait this writer respects. I can report that Mr. Purcell appeared to be an honest person, who's intentions were truly genuine.
At the recent full review hearing, DHS' Attorney stated, "we've received information that a reporter is present" and asked that the judge not allow it. Judge Daniel Murphy responded by quoting Oregon law and the first amendment, then asked if anyone "objected", to which there was no reply. Concluding the hearing, Judge Murphy stated that if the children are not given back to one of the parents by August 9, 2012, that one of the attorneys needed to schedule another review hearing. Judge Murphy appeared to be concerned for the children, which was evident when he spoke to the many attorney's present.
Editor’s Note: The US~Observer contacted Julia Blackburn who is/was the case worker at DHS assigned to this case. During the short conversation, Blackburn stated, "I don't feel comfortable talking." We were eventually put into contact with DHS supervisor Marco Benavides. Mr. Benavides reassured the US~Observer that Amber’s case would be reassessed. Nothing has been documented to prove anything has happened as of this publication. In fact, Amber is reportedly awaiting a hearing where the determination will be made regarding DHS's decision to keep her children from her permanently.
Amber is a fit mother that needs counseling for Battered Women's Syndrome. DHS has failed thus far at doing the right thing in this case. DHS has given out of office visitation to Duran for the two youngest children and temporary custody of the eldest child to Boatright.
Amber currently has to visit her children under strict supervision at DHS. DHS has even gone as far as telling Amber she cannot "talk to the children about future placement with her..." In other words, if one of her children said they wanted to come home, she must "redirect the conversation." Amber was also recently notified that she was no longer permitted to take photos of her own children during her visits with them.
What is wrong with this picture people? David Boatright has custody of Amber’s oldest son and Michael Duran has visits with Amber’s two younger children, outside of DHS supervision, while he most likely awaits another prison term for his alleged criminal attacks on Amber. Amber’s visits with her own children are closely monitored and supervised, as she is constantly dissected and examined by DHS. This is NOT okay with this writer and this is NOT okay with the US~Observer. This is incompetence, it is negligence and this is absolute abuse of Amber. It will NOT continue…
If you have any information regarding DHS employees, Julia Blackburn, Kimberly Williams (former DHS) or Marco Benavides, please contact the US~Observer immediately via email edtior@usobserver.com, or call 541-474-7885. It’s time to put an end to abuse at the hands of DHS.

http://usobserver.com/archive/june-12/dhs-you-stole-her-heart.htm

Published: May 22, 2012 12:01 AM EST
Updated: May 21, 2012 11:49 PM EST

Verdict: 'Not guilty' in Erie child abuse trial

By LISA THOMPSON, Erie Times-News
lisa.thompson@timesnews.com 

 

An Erie County jury deliberated less than an hour Monday before clearing an Erie man of all charges he shook his girlfriend's 14-month-old son so hard he inflicted brain damage a year ago.

Scott Drayer, 32, was acquitted of charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment after the three-day trial.

As the verdict was read in Judge Daniel Brabender's courtroom, Drayer, 32, put his face in his hands and wept.

His lawyer, Gene Placidi, welcomed the outcome.

"I am happy for Scott and for his family, and I thank them for all the support they have shown," he said.

Support for Drayer also came from his former girlfriend, Sherrall Maloney, the mother of the victim, Kamar Maloney. She was called to testify for the prosecution, but maintained she did not think Drayer was capable of assaulting her son.

"I am absolutely fine with it," she said of the jury's verdict.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz prosecuted the case, but could not be in the courtroom at the time of the verdict because she was prosecuting a new case in another courtroom.

Erie police accused Drayer of causing a severe brain injury to Kamar on May 11, 2011, in the East 14th Street residence that Drayer shared with Sherrall Maloney.

Both sides agreed Sherrall Maloney had left home for work at about 6:10 p.m., and that two to four minutes later, Drayer summoned her back to the residence and also called 911 for help.

Drayer told police and others he was on the edge of a bed and watching TV when Maloney put a crying Kamar in his lap and left for work. Kamar often wept when his mother left home and tried to follow her, he and Maloney said.

Drayer said he tried pacifying Kamar with cheese curls, and that a minute or two after Maloney left through the kitchen door, he put Kamar down, and the child ran into the adjacent kitchen where his mother had just been. Drayer said he heard a clattering sound from the metal kitchen chairs and table and then did not hear Kamar. When he looked into the kitchen, he said he saw Kamar lying limp on his right side. He summoned Maloney back to the house and then called 911 for help.

Doctors found Kamar had bleeding on the right side of his brain only. Days later, they also found bleeding in his retinas. He underwent brain surgery to relieve swelling and, after months of treatment, returned home. Kamar cannot walk or sit up by himself. He only recently began eating solid food again, according to testimony.

Dr. Joseph Scheller, a pediatric neurologist from the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., testifying for the defense, said shaking alone could not have caused Kamar's injury.

He said Kamar's injury was consistent with Kamar tripping and falling to the floor or with Kamar climbing onto a chair and falling. He said a blow to the head by another person also could have caused the injury.

The prosecution's expert from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Dr. Janet Squires, said violent shaking, not a fall, explained the child's injuries, Hirz said in her closing.

The prosecution said the injury to Kamar's brain would have been centered on the point of impact if he had fallen.

The defense said if Kamar had been shaken the way the prosecution maintained, he would have had bleeding on both sides of his brain. The defense also pointed to evidence that Drayer had repeatedly cared for Kamar without incident for more than a year and was not known to raise his voice to anyone in the home.

If Drayer had hurt the child, he likely would not have called for help immediately or maintained a consistent story, Placidi noted in his closing. The 22-pound child had no marks on his body indicating he had been grabbed and shaken, Placidi said.

"Please use your common sense because common sense exonerates Scott," Placidi said to the jury.

Hirz told jurors Drayer's story was "ridiculous" and tailored to cover up his assault. She asked jurors to infer Drayer shook the crying child because he had watched Kamar earlier in the day and had not expected to baby sit him another four hours that evening.

"Kamar got in the way that night," she said.

LISA THOMPSON can be reached at 870-1802 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNthompson.

http://www.goerie.com/article/20120522/NEWS02/305219929/Verdict%3A-%27Not-guilty%27-in-Erie-child-abuse-trial
 

Remembering children who died in foster care

Walk to raise awareness of kids in care hits the streets in Saskatoon

Reported by Ashley Wills

First Posted: Jun 20, 2012 4:18pm

A sea of T-shirts and signs honouring children who have died in foster care flooded a Saskatoon park today.

"What's going on right now is the new residential school, so many native kids in foster care," said Chris Martell, father of Evander Lee Daniels, who died in the care of a foster parent nearly two years ago.

Providing food, clothing and shelter simply isn't enough for children in the system, said Chief Wesley Daniels of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

"There has to be love. They have to be placed in a home where there's love," he said.

The Ministry of Social Services needs to change the way things are done, Daniels said, like allowing grandparents to be more involved in the process.

"In our culture, grandparents have a huge interest in the development of their children."

In 2011, 75 per cent of children who died in Saskatchewan's foster care system were aboriginal.

awills@rawlco.com

Follow on Twitter: @ashwillsee

http://www.newstalk650.com/story/remembering-children-who-died-foster-care/62504

Dad’s Love Can Be Crucial for Happy Childhood, Study Confirms

Move over, tiger moms. Dads can play an even more significant role in the development of happy, well-adjusted children than do mothers, a new study indicates.

Just in time for Father’s Day, findings from a large-scale review of research shed light on how parental acceptance and rejection can affect the personalities of progeny well into adulthood.

“In our 50 years of research in every continent but Antarctica, we have found that nothing has as strong and consistent an effect on personality development as does being rejected by a parent — especially by a father — in childhood,” said study co-author Ronald Rohner, director of the Ronald and Nancy Rohner Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut, in Storrs.

The study, published recently in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Review, analyzed 36 studies, from 1975 to 2010, involving almost 1,400 adults and 8,600 children in 18 countries. The children ranged in age from 9 to 18, and adults were between 18 and 89.

All the studies included in the review included an assessment of seven personality traits considered central to what is called “parental acceptance-rejection theory.”

Those traits — aggression, independence, positive self-esteem, positive self-adequacy, emotional responsiveness, emotional stability and positive worldview — were evaluated using self-report questionnaires. Participants were asked about their parents’ degree of acceptance or rejection during their childhoods and about their own personality characteristics or tendencies.

“The study shows a strong relationship between those seven traits and the experience of feeling accepted and cared about by your parents,” said Dr. John Sargent, a professor of psychology and pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine and chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center, in Boston.

“What’s really important to kids is to know they’re accepted by their parents,” Sargent said.

Study author Rohner said fathers may have a greater impact on a child’s personality because children and teenagers pay more attention to the parent who seems to have greater interpersonal power, or influence, in the family’s power hierarchy.

He explained that when a father is perceived as having more power, even if he spends less time with the children, he can have a greater impact. That’s because his comments or actions seem to stand out more notably. This is despite the fact that, all over the world, mothers tend to spend more time with kids than fathers do.

While not being accepted causes identifiable personality issues, acceptance doesn’t necessarily confer particular benefits. “Unfortunately, humans respond more dramatically to negative things,” Rohner said. Rejection predicts a specific set of negative outcomes — such as hostility, low self-esteem, negativity — while feeling loved and accepted is not as closely associated with particular positive outcomes, he explained.

There was no difference seen in the importance of a father’s love for girls versus boys.

The study does not establish a causal connection between respondents’ personalities and perceptions of being accepted or rejected.

Rohner said the research shows that society tends to place too much emphasis on the impact of mothers on children, often blaming them for troublesome personality traits or behaviors, even into adulthood. “We need to start giving greater acclaim to dads, and put them on an equal footing with moms in terms of their impact on children,” he said.

“Our work should encourage dads to get really involved in the loving care of their children at an early age,” Rohner said. “Their kids will be measurably better off.”

More information

The University of Connecticut has more about acceptance and rejection in families .

http://www.livetradingnews.com/dads-love-can-be-crucial-for-happy-childhood-study-confirms-76699.htm#.T-R_erWZ28B

Staff face charges for failing children in care

By Noel Baker

Friday, June 22, 2012

Care workers and HSE staff who "blatantly" failed vulnerable young children under their care could face criminal charges.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said the involvement of the gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions could be considered following the publication of a damning report into the deaths of 196 children from 2000 to 2010.

Ms Fitzgerald was responding to calls from party colleague and TD Denis Naughten, who demanded tough action against staff who "blatantly did not do their job" and "in some cases... deliberately misrepresented the situation to reduce their own workload".

"If that is the case we should be looking at files being sent to the gardaí and on to the DPP."

Mr Naughten was speaking at a meeting of the joint Oireachtas health committee which also heard more detail on government plans to overhaul child and family services in light of the report. It came as the Government confirmed the referendum on the rights of the child would be a standalone ballot in the autumn.

The report, its authors, and the minister have stressed the good practice in some of the cases and the efforts gone to by many frontline staff in helping children and young people who subsequently died.

But Mr Naughten said "a small minority" of cases may include examples of gross misconduct.

Ms Fitzgerald said people needed to distinguish between cases where the professionals with a very heavy workload had spread themselves too thinly and those who had displayed gross misconduct.

"There is no reason why normal disciplinary procedures cannot be in place and they are in place," she said.

"That [Garda investigation] remains a potential [option], if that is the appropriate thing to do."

When the report, compiled by Geoffrey Shannon and Norah Gibbons, was published, the HSE’s national director of child and family services, Gordon Jeyes, said some disciplinary action was underway, but he was unable to say if anybody had lost their job.

He said some of those involved may have moved on, given that many of the cases dated from a number of years ago.

Similarly, the report by the Independent Child Death Review Group (ICDRG) was based primarily on the files related to each case. No staff member was questioned and therefore it would require reviews of certain cases and more evidence gathering before gross misconduct could be proven.

Ms Fitzgerald said yesterday she would discuss with Mr Jeyes the best way to review some cases, as called for by the ICDRG.

Ineke Durville of the Irish Association of Social Workers said any new review of cases would need to establish there was a "willful act", rather than just issues of professional competency.

The minister’s task force, charged with looking at how the new Child and Family Support Agency will operate once it starts work next January, will deliver its report next month.

Jim Breslin, secretary general of the department, said the new agency would be child- and family-centred.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/staff-face-charges-for-failing-children-in-care-198377.html

Child Protective? Services CPS making money off innocent children and their families Tempe, Arizona

Yes, I added that ? mark intentionally. CPS does not protect children, but rather they take children from loving homes and destroy lives!  Whats more is that they give out confidential information to people that don't need to know it, but they are caring for your children. Ha! I just don't get it! Does CPS have a finders fee for new foster families? I'm sure they must! I know that they collect $80 grand per kid per year and the foster family only receives a pittance of that. I have a friend who has her children being kept from her by CPS and she has done everything that she has been asked in order for her to get her kids back, and then some!  Her 2 year old was hurt by a guy that kept coming over to her house after she broke up with her boyfriend. Daycare reported it and CPS took the kids. She was told that after the investigation she would get the kids back as long as she took a drug test and filed a restraining order. She did all that and more. She even did a somewhat overnight move because he continued to harrass her by phone and in person. She moved to another city about 15 miles away and did not tell any friends so that he could not find her. She has been taking drug tests. The first was positive because she was on pain medication called vicadan. All the rest were negative but she had 3 tests in a row at TASC and the middle one was positive for meth. Meth stays in your body/urine for 3-5 days after you take it. It was not in the first test or the last test of the 3. Only the middle one. How can that be? My friend is not using anything! She wants her kids back more than anything in the world! These people have a false positive test! It was either intentional or a mistake, but it was wrong!  Now she has not had a test in a week. The CPS investigator who kidnapped her kids from her has been telling everything to the foster mom. They are like bosom buddies and lifelong friends! There is no reson for her to be telling anyone outside of her office these personal things! Want to know the real kicker? The person she is telling is the sister of my friend. She has the children. The visits are held at CPS, so there is no reason for her sister to know! Her sister and she have never gotten along. Everything in life that happens that is bad, she automatically blames my friend. A house is robbed, she blames my friend. car stolen? She blames her for that as well! This sister gets all this private information a week to 3 weeks before my friend even knows about it, and it is her life!  One final note to this. My friends sister and her husband have no children and they had not considered being foster parents before, but now they are going through the ropes and classes in order to get their license to be paid for this time with my friends children. The classes will take another 6 months or so. The investigator from CPS told my friend that she would get her kids back in 4-6 weeks. That was 3 weeks ago! Her sister told her she does not know anything about 4-6 weeks. I have a theory. They are keeping the kids long enough to get her sister/husband to be foster parents and once they are licensed they will continue. Everyone knows how hard up CPS is for foster care now. These are beautiful, loving children that love their family very much, including mommy! They are told that they cannot cry when they see anyone in their family or they won't have any more visits, or they will be cut short. Now the kids are being brainwashed and becoming cold and distant to all family members! This CPS woman needs to be fired for lying and giving out personal and confidential info about clients! Unless it is pertinent it is not neccessary to tell any caregiver any personal info about the parents.  


http://www.ripoffreport.com/exterminating/child-protective-ser/child-protective-services-cp-C1EC5.htm

4-year-old Texas girl taken from parents and heavily drugged by Child Protective Services

Published: 18 May, 2012, 23:23
Edited: 19 May, 2012, 20:43

Rachel Harrison

TAGS: Children, Health, Drugs, USA

The parents of a 4-year-old girl are outraged after their daughter was placed under the care of Child Protective Services and then heavily medicated with psychotropic drugs.

Christina and David Harrison were heartbroken when Child Protective Services took away their daughter, Rachel, when she was only three. At the time, authorities suspended their parental rights after the child’s mother tested positive for cocaine, something she now says she heavily regrets. When she finally got to see her daughter again, however, she noticed some serious changes with Rachel.

The next time the Harrison’s saw their daughter, it was Rachel that was on drugs.

"She was never abused or neglected in any way except by CPS," Debbie Flores, Rachel's grandmother, tells a Fox News affiliate in Houston.

"They actually testified in the first hearing that Rachel was never neglected, never abused and she was a happy healthy child," Christina Harrison adds. When the CPS sent Rachel to a doctor, however, a physician wrote a prescription that would soon change all of that.

"There's paperwork saying she was screaming for mommy and daddy," says her mother.

"And the easiest way to handle her acting up was to medicate her," her father adds.

To Fox 26, Rachel’s parents say their daughter was drooling and appeared emaciated.  

"Every time we would go visit her at visitation she was skinn[i]er and she'd just be lethargic not wanting to move not wanting to say hi just sit in the corner and keep to herself," her father claims.

"She was also writing prescriptions," her mother tells the network. "They might play doctor but she was writing prescriptions on paper, ‘Here take your medicine.’"

The Harrisons asked CPS if their daughter was put on drugs, to which the agency allegedly replied no.  

Six months after continuously asking, though, it was finally revealed in a court hearing that their small daughter was being prescribed heavy medication that the US Food and Drug Administration says shouldn’t be given to a child under the age of 10.

"3-years-old, given psychotropic drugs, there's no reason for it none at all," David Harrison tells the network.

Rachel, at only three years old, was hooked on Risperdal, a drug used to treat Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar disorder. Sadly, she isn’t the only one either.

A report from ABC News published in November 2011 reveals that around one-fourth of foster children examined by the Government Accountability Office were prescribed at least one psychiatric drugs, with thousands of youngsters forced to take doses higher than what the FDA approves.

“And hundreds of foster children received five or more psychiatric drugs at the same time despite absolutely no evidence supporting the simultaneous use or safety of this number of psychiatric drugs taken together,” ABC adds in their report.

The network adds that in Texas, home of the Harrison Family, children are more likely to be prescribed psychotropic drugs than non-foster children in four other states examined — Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon — and not just by a little.

“In Texas, foster children were 53 times more likely to be prescribed five or more psychiatric medications at the same time than non-foster children,” the ABC report reveals. Nationally speaking, children in foster care are nearly five times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic drugs than non-foster children.

In the case of little Rachel Harrison, her parents say a CPS-appointed physician filled out a Risperdal prescription for their daughter, but only after he met with the girl for 16 minutes. Dr. Osagie ignored attempts from Fox to comment on the issue, the station reports, which very well be because he is very busy — they network adds that he has so far treated 755 children in CPS foster care.

“When a parents messes up, you call CPS. Who do you call when CPS messes up?” asks Christina Harrison to Houston’s Fox 26.

“There’s nothing you can do.”

http://rt.com/usa/news/parents-child-daughter-rachel-619/

Baby Shampoos Could Trigger False Child Abuse Allegations

by PAT ANSON on JUNE 20, 2012

Parents who use Johnson and Johnson’s “No More Tears” baby shampoo could get a visit from a social worker asking questions about illegal drug use, according to a surprising new study at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Researchers say baby shampoos and other soaps used to wash newborn babies may cause infants to test positive for marijuana.

Researchers found that urine samples from babies washed with any of five baby soaps — Johnson & Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, J&J Bedtime Bath, CVS Night-Time Baby Bath, Aveeno Soothing Relief Creamy Wash and Aveeno Wash Shampoo — tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.

“We have identified commonly used soap and wash products used for newborn and infant care as potential causes of false positive THC screening results. Such results in this population can lead to involvement by social services or false child abuse allegations,” the researchers reported in the journal of Clinical Biochemistry. “Given these consequences, it is important for laboratories and providers to be aware of this potential source for false positive screening results and to consider confirmation before initiating interventions.”

Twelve states consider prenatal exposure to any illegal drug, including marijuana, as child abuse.

The researchers began their investigation after nurses at the UNC Chapel Hill nursery reported an unusually high number of infants testing positive for marijuana. Screening of newborns for illegal drugs is not uncommon among populations where there is a high risk of drug use. Positive results can trigger an investigation by child welfare authorities.

Researchers mixed drug-free urine samples with various products and materials found in the nursery to see which ones tested positive for THC. Shampoos were eventually found to be the cause.

The problem is not limited to the five soaps identified in the study. Researchers say any soap or shampoo containing the chemicals polyquaternium-11 and cocamidopropyl betaine could elicit positive marijuana test results. They don’t know why the chemicals interfere with the test, but believe small amounts of soap wash off the babies’ skin and contaminate their urine samples. More sophisticated testing can distinguish between true and false positives, but those tests are rarely ordered because of the cost involved.