In some cases, medical providers believe that a child was abused because of specific findings like bruises or fractures. In other cases, providers believe a combination of symptoms is indicative of abuse.
Certain symptoms might lead a healthcare provider to make diagnoses of shaken baby syndrome or abusive head trauma. And while there’s often little evidence to confirm that injuries like these are the result of child abuse, that doesn’t stop parents from facing criminal charges when these diagnoses are made.
Often, child abuse charges are unfair and unwarranted. It’s essential to fight back if you want to protect your future and your parental rights. If you’re facing charges of criminal child abuse in Wisconsin, it’s important to hire a skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Call the experienced Wisconsin criminal defense lawyers at Nicholson Goetz & Otis, S.C. today to schedule a consultation to discuss how we can help.
Child abuse laws are intended to protect children from cruel treatment, and law enforcement takes charges of abuse very seriously. Unfortunately, child abuse laws can also be used to harshly or unfairly penalize parents and caretakers.
When a young child suffers a head injury, it is often diagnosed as abusive head trauma, colloquially called shaken baby syndrome. In these situations, medical professionals often check for signs of abusive head trauma and may report parents to the police if they believe abuse played a role in causing the child’s injuries.
These types of diagnosis very frequently result in a criminal charge of child abuse.
However, the science behind abusive head trauma is commonly questioned, with researchers proposing alternative theories for why a child exhibits symptoms of abusive head trauma. Some of these include birth injuries, genetic conditions, and incorrect medical assumptions.
Despite this, medical professionals and the justice system often default to the assumption that brain trauma is the result of shaken baby syndrome and assume that a child has been abused. As such, there’s a good chance that a healthcare provider who sees signs of brain trauma will make a diagnosis of abusive head trauma.
While there’s little evidence that can confirm abuse, this doesn’t stop parents from facing unfair and untrue criminal charges.
Because of the complexity of these cases, many lawyers who practice criminal defense decline to accept child abuse cases based on a medical diagnosis of abusive head trauma.
In these cases, it’s vital to turn to lawyers who have a history of success with shaken baby syndrome cases — like the top-flight legal team at Nicholson Goetz & Otis, S.C. Our lawyers have handled many of these cases, and have secured not guilty verdicts in cases where death by shaking and injury by shaking were alleged.
We understand the complex science behind these allegations, and are able to successfully challenge the State’s doctors in court.
Child abuse allegations and charges require immediate action. Tragically, parents mistakenly convicted of child abuse in Dane County face legal consequences such as removal of the child from the parent’s care, felony charges, lengthy prison sentences, significant fines, and the loss of parental rights.
Every child suffers injuries from time to time, but that doesn’t mean a parent is guilty of abuse or neglect. So while child abuse allegations are serious, healthcare providers should never jump to conclusions about how a child’s injuries happened.
When you’re unfairly accused of causing your child’s injuries or death, you need a skilled child abuse defense lawyer who can fight to clear your name and help protect your parental rights.
If you’ve been charged with child abuse in Wisconsin, you need an experienced defense attorney on your case. Nicholson Goetz & Otis, S.C. is a criminal defense firm located in Madison, WI. We have a long track record of helping our clients regain their freedom in the face of criminal charges, including cases centered around child abuse charges.
Contact Nicholson Goetz & Otis, S.C. to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Wisconsin child abuse defense attorney.
