Abusive head trauma (AHT), which includes shaken baby syndrome, is a preventable and
severe form of physical child abuse
that results in an injury to the brain of a child.
Why is shaken baby syndrome also called abusive head trauma?
Abusive head trauma is also called shaken baby syndrome. This is because it is
most often caused by shaking a small child or infant so hard that it has a whiplash effect
. It can also be caused by jerking, throwing, or hitting the child.
Is shaking a baby a form of abuse?
Shaken baby syndrome is a
form of child abuse
that can result in permanent brain damage or death.
Is shaken baby syndrome a felony?
Normally a defendant will face a mandatory five year minimum jail sentence for these charges. When the baby dies, the charge is murder or manslaughter and these jail sentences can be much longer. 20 to 40 years for third degree murder.
What are the legal and ethical issues with shaken baby syndrome?
WHAT ARE THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF SHAKING A BABY? Shaking a child is not a recognized method of discipline; forceful shaking is child abuse and a criminal assault. The legal implications of Shaken Baby Syndrome involve
child welfare and criminal investigations
.
Is it OK to bounce baby to sleep?
While there are many benefits to rocking a baby, rocking too much might discourage your child from falling asleep on their own. A sleep
association
can develop in response to rocking, in which case your baby becomes dependent on this activity in order to fall asleep (4).
Is it OK to shake baby to sleep?
When they are shaken, the brain slams back and forth inside the skull, resulting in bleeding around the brain and damage to the brain itself. Some babies may even stop breathing, which can cause further brain damage. The shaking can also cause bleeding into the back of the eyes.
Can a baby recover from shaken baby syndrome?
The prognosis for victims of shaken baby syndrome varies
with the severity of injury but generally is poor
. Many cases are fatal or lead to severe neurological deficits. Death is usually caused by uncontrollable increased intracranial pressure from cerebral edema, bleeding within the brain or tears in the brain tissue.
Can a bumpy car ride cause shaken baby syndrome?
Can baby get shaken baby syndrome in the womb?
No
. Going down a bumpy road while pregnant, jumping, running or even tripping won't affect baby, thanks to the protective amniotic fluid inside the uterus, Horton explains.
What can be mistaken for shaken baby syndrome?
Collagen disorders such as
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and others are recognized to make patients susceptible to bone fragility fractures, subdural hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage and bruising. Child abuse experts often dismiss collagen disorders, or never even test for or consider them.
Is shaken baby syndrome illegal?
Even if parents don't intend to harm their child,
criminal charges can still be brought
against a parent that has caused their child injury or death due to shaking. Generally, although there are alternative viewpoints, the medical establishment considers shaken baby syndrome as a product of abuse.
How do they test for shaken baby syndrome?
- X-rays to see if the skull is fractured.
- Computed tomography (CT) scans of the head and abdomen.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Eye examination to look for evidence of retinal bleeding (bleeding at the back of the eyes).
How do they prove shaken baby syndrome?
To diagnose shaken baby syndrome, physicians look for
retinal hemorrhages (bleeding in the retina of the eyes)
, subdural hematoma (blood in the brain) and increased head size indicating excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the brain.
Who commits Shaken Baby?
Babies,
newborn to one year
(especially babies ages 2 to 4 months), are at greatest risk of injury from shaking.
Why do people shake babies?
People may shake an infant out of frustration or anger, often because the
child won't stop crying
. Although shaking does eventually make the baby stop crying, it's usually because the shaking has damaged their brain. Babies have weak neck muscles and often have difficulty supporting their heads.
What part of the brain is affected by shaken baby syndrome?
Symptoms vary and are caused by
generalized brain swelling secondary to trauma
. They may appear immediately after the shaking and usually reach a peak within 4-6 hours. The following signs and symptoms may indicate shaken baby syndrome: Altered level of consciousness.
