Shaken Baby Syndrome: Investigating the Abusive Head Trauma Controversy

By Keith A. Findley, Cyrille Rossant, Kana Sasakura, Leila Schneps, Waney Squier, Knut Wester
Since the early 2000s, a growing body of scientific studies in neuropathology, neurology, neurosurgery, biomechanics, statistics, criminology and psychology has cast doubt on the forensic reliability of medical determinations of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), more recently termed Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Studies have increasingly documented that accidental short falls and a wide range of medical conditions, can cause the same symptoms and findings associated with this syndrome. Nevertheless, inaccurate diagnoses, unrealistic confidence expression, and wrongful convictions continue to this day. Bringing together contributions from a multidisciplinary expert panel of 32 professionals across 8 countries in 16 different specialties, this landmark book tackles the highly controversial topic of SBS, which lies at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With comprehensive coverage across multiple disciplines, it explains the scientific evidence challenging SBS and advances efforts to evaluate how deaths and serious brain injuries in infants should be analysed and investigated.

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Introduction

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), also known as Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), is a highly controversial topic that lies at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. For years, this syndrome has been used as a diagnosis to explain the deaths and serious brain injuries in infants. However, a growing body of scientific studies in neuropathology, neurology, neurosurgery, biomechanics, statistics, criminology, and psychology has cast doubt on the forensic reliability of medical determinations of SBS. Accidental short falls and a wide range of medical conditions can cause the same symptoms and findings associated with SBS. Despite the mounting evidence challenging the reliability of this diagnosis, inaccurate diagnoses, unrealistic confidence expression, and wrongful convictions continue.

To help unravel this complex and controversial topic, a multidisciplinary expert panel of 32 professionals across 8 countries in 16 different specialties came together to create a landmark book: