“Shaken baby syndrome” and forensic pathology

Authors: Mary Case

Publish Date: 2014/03/08

Volume: 10, Issue: 2, Pages: 246-247

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Abstract

In the paper by Byard 1 it is noted that shaken baby syndrome SBS has become a very contentious and hotly debated issue in the forensic pathology community as well as in the rest of medicine that concerns itself with young children I certainly agree with that opinion Byard then goes on to point out a number of specific points of contention for example lucid interval and whether the pathological findings of subdural and retinal hemorrhage are caused by trauma or by hypoxia There is also mention of some of the biomechanical studies which have tried to model child head injuries The author invites commentary on this controversy from individuals who have been involved in some of this ongoing discussionMy practice has been as a forensic pathologist who is also a neuropathologist for the past 38 years in a large metropolitan area serving a population of approximately 25 million with two large tertiary care children’s hospitals I have had the opportunity to autopsy several

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