STORY: "Spinal muscular atrophy, mistaken for child abuse," by Sandra Fish, published by the Washington Post on April 4, 2012.
GIST: "One in 40 people carries the gene that causes the disease; if both parents have the gene, chances are 1 in 4 that a child will develop SMA. But as illustrated in the Post story, Tiffany and Dave O'Shell, didn't know about SMA. Neither did their baby girl's doctors initially. And neither did the social workers who took their 3-month old daughter away from the couple (both police officers), citing broken bones in the baby's legs. There were no other signs of abuse, not even bruises on her legs. Fearing he was about to be arrested for child abuse, Dave O'Shell shot and killed his wife, then himself on June 30, 2008. Their baby, Alyssa, was diagnosed with SMA a week after her parents died. Still, social service officials recommended the child be kept in foster care. Her maternal grandparents had to get a judge to release their daughter to them. She died in their arms in late October 2008. A lawsuit against the social services agency and a hospital involved was unsuccessful........."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/spinal-muscular-atrophy-mistaken-for-child-abuse/2012/04/04/gIQAuT15uS_blog.html
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.
