Shaken baby syndrome: Aisling Brady McCarthy; New England Innocence Project challenges "several" cases on basis that the science behind the conviction is not sound; Boston Herald.

STORY: "'Shaken baby' doubters give cases another look," by O'Ryan Johnson,  published by the Boston Herald, on August 9, 2014.

SUB-HEADING: "Lawyers for Irish nanny Aisling Brady McCarthy have challenged the shaken baby diagnosis made by Dr. Alice Newton."

GIST: "The New England Innocence Project is looking at “several” Bay State cases where a person was convicted of murder following a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, saying the science behind that conclusion is not sound — the same argument now being made by lawyers for an Irish nanny accused of killing a baby in her care. “The reason is that the scientific underpinnings of shaken baby syndrome have been called into question,” said Denise McWilliams, executive director of the project. “There’s a good amount of evidence that shaken baby syndrome might, at best, be questionable and it might, at worst, be totally bogus.” McWilliams would not discuss which cases the Innocence Project was looking at, but said there is a growing chorus of experts nationwide casting doubt on the diagnosis. At issue is whether the injuries normally associated with shaken baby syndrome — brain bleeding, retinal hemorrhaging and brain swelling — can be inflicted without leaving a mark on the child, or harming the child’s neck, which is what is alleged in some cases, she said. Lawyers for Irish nanny Aisling Brady McCarthy, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 1-year-old Rehma Sabir, on Thursday in court filings challenged the shaken baby diagnosis made by Dr. Alice Newton, saying the child had a series of medical problems that weren’t examined as potential causes of death and Newton relied on techniques that are coming under fire from the scientific and medical community."

The entire story can be found at:

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/08/shaken_baby_doubters_give_cases_another_look

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 

Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
 
I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.

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.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
 
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Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;