Saturday, June 30, 2012

Shaken Baby Syndrome: A fresh approach: Set up review panels to unconvict the innocent; Rachel Burg; U. of Michigan Law Reform Journal.


STORY: Unconvicting the innocent: The case for shaken baby syndrome review panels,' by Rachel Burg, published in the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform in its Spring 2012 edition.

GIST: "Unfortunately, Julie is not alone in her experience. The truly heartbreaking stories, however, are those that are not told–the innocent people currently in prison, convicted of seriously injuring a child that they loved, based on a medical diagnosis that has become scientifically questionable. Like Julie Baumer, many defendants enter court unprepared to counter the legion of medical experts that they will face, and most are not as lucky as Julie was to find an Innocence Clinic to take on their causes. This Note examines the interaction between a Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) diagnosis and our criminal justice system, and calls for a review process to be put in place. An SBS Review Panel would give those convicted of SBS-related crimes the opportunity to have competent experts review the medical records, and the chance for a fair trial."

For full paper see link

http://www.mjlr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Burg_45.3.pdf

The entire precis of the periodical article can be found at:

http://medicalmisdiagnosisresearch.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/un-convicting-the-innocent-the-case-for-shaken-baby-syndrome-review-panels/

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.