Monday, June 28, 2010

Nathan Wilson, 6 month old boy, dies after reportedly being shaken for 10 seconds|Shaken baby with bruises and old injuries|Shaken Baby Syndrome lawyer|Shaken Baby syndrome attorney

The Boson Herald reported the tragic case of Nathan Wilson, a 6 month old boy in Massachusetts who died after being shaken for 10 seconds.  Here's the link:

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100626dad_indicted_in_babys_death_malden_man_pleads_not_guilty/

In addition to the article being significant because it reports a confirmed 10 second shaking episode followed by death, it is also a significant report because it indicates that the shaking was done to quiet down a cranky and fussy baby.   Again, demonstrating the link between a crying baby and a reported shaken baby syndrome event.

The other significant part of the article is that the autopsy revealed  subdural hemorrhage which was acute in part, 3-5 days old in part and more than a month old in part - indicating multiple, smaller preceding injuries to the brain before the 10 second shaking which preceded the death. It is very important in a tragic situation like this - meaning when there are multiple prior injuries - for Nathan Wilson's surviving family members and the authorities who are investigating his death to determine whether the baby had been exposed to any mandated reporters of child abuse (daycare providers, teachers, pediatricians, nurses, social workers, police, sheriff) who witnessed any signs of abuse (e.g. bruising, oral injuries, excessive vomiting, apparent life threatening events) and whether they reported any such signs to the responsible child welfare agency (CPS and/or the police/sheriff). The report of this death also signifies once again the significant temporal relationship between babies crying, babies being shaken for a short period of time (10 seconds) and the sudden onset of a decrease in neurologic functioning.

For more information on the physical effects of abusive head trauma or shaken baby syndrome in general, feel free to contact child injury and shaken baby syndrome lawyer Chris Keane. Accustomed to working with the best medical experts in the field during abusive head trauma cases, he will answer all your questions for free, provide you with helpful resources, and help you find the medical care your child needs. Shaken baby syndrome is a serious matter, and Chris Keane is devoted to making life better for its victims and their families.

Contact Chris Keane online or call 1-888-592-KIDS.

How social workers can help survivors of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma|California child abuse lawyer|Shaken baby syndrome lawyer

Medical social workers are almost always involved in cases of child abuse resulting in severe brain damage - be it from shaken baby syndrome or abusive head trauma.   As soon as an emergency department provider suspects that the head trauma was intentionally inflicted, they will almost always simultaneously order both the requisite neurological consults and a social work consult.   The primary underlying role of a medical social worker is to make the adjustment from inpatient to outpatient as smooth as possible for the child and his or her future caregivers (such as a non-abusive parent, or grandparents or other relatives who will now be caring for the child once the child is removed from the abusive and/or neglectful caregiver).   Many of the survivors of shaken baby syndrome or abusive head trauma will have a lifetime of medical needs and need help around the home - and most will never support themselves or live independently, so the social worker should help the child's new caregivers get as much help as possible.  One of the best ways a social worker can do this is to refer the caregivers to a lawyer who represents survivors of shaken baby syndrome or abusive head trauma.   A shaken baby syndrome lawyer can help get the child money to take care of home health care, residential care, transportation, therapy, orthopedic appliances and any necessary doctor or nursing assistance.  Also, a shaken baby syndrome attorney can get money for the caregivers to get respite -or take a break - so they can rest up and be available to help them continue to help the child.  Medi-Cal will not cover all of these expenses, so social workers should refer their patients to someone who can help them.

For more information on how the Keane Law Firm can help social workers with referrals of survivors of   abusive head trauma or shaken baby syndrome in general, feel free to contact child injury and shaken baby syndrome lawyer Chris Keane.  Accustomed to working with the best medical experts in the field during abusive head trauma cases, he will answer all your questions for free, provide you with helpful resources, and help you find the medical care your child needs.  Shaken baby syndrome is a serious matter, and Chris Keane is devoted to making life better for its victims and their families.

Click here to contact Chris Keane online or call 1-888-592-KIDS