Survivor
My Story:
Friday, April 13, 2018, my life and my family's life, as we knew it, would be changed forever. We were accused, which meant we were guilty, of abusing our 6 week old son. This accusation was made due to the negligence of the child protective team at the University of Michigan, Mott Children's Hospital.
Our son was born with Rickets. Rickets is a disease in children caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Symptoms of the disease include imperfect calcification, softening and distortion of the bones, which can result in fractures due to normal handling. Laboratory tests confirm our son was bordering on extreme deficiency when he was seen at the University of Michigan April 13, 2018, at just 6 weeks old. Since birth, our son was receiving Vitamin D supplementation as he was exclusively breast fed. Studies confirm the correlation between maternal and fetal Vitamin D levels. In August 2018, 6 months after giving birth, and after the peak of the summer months, my Vitamin D level was checked at routine physical. My level was 8 ng/ml, considered extremely deficient. Why my level was never checked, and why our sons level at birth was never considered can be argued, in my opinion, as either negligence or a willingness to disregard pertinent medical information in order to confirm a diagnosis of abuse, therefore misleading MDHHS, CPS and the courts.
An ultrasound and CT scan, both done prior to a skeletal survey, ruled out abuse. Mott Children's Hospital was on a fishing expedition at my son's expense. They performed unnecessary testing, exposing him to unwarranted and unneeded radiation, searching for abuse. All of these tests continued to show no evidence of abuse.
The smoking gun: A skeletal survey showed a rib fracture. Hours later, this 1 rib fracture was turned into 4 rib fractures. U of M finally had what they needed. But...our son had a Vitamin D level bordering on extreme deficiency. The staff at Mott Children's Hospital claimed my son had no evidence of a genetic bone disorder or metabolic bone disease. The 5th sentence of this same paragraph (in my son's medical record) claims my son in no way had rickets, yet, the physician prescribed the AAP's (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommended treatment for rickets, which was 2,000 international units per day of Vitamin D for six to twelve weeks, followed by maintenance dosing of at least 400 international units per day.
After 8 months, our case was finally dismissed. Our judge, in tears, apologized to us, thanked our attorney, Lisa Kirsch-Satawa, as she presented evidence in our case "rarely seen in his courtroom".
A local investigative reporter who has been investigating the director of the child protection team at Mott's Children's Hospital, the accusing physician in our case, for over 5 years, approached us about doing an interview detailing our 8 month nightmare. Reluctantly, we agreed but, I cancelled the interview the day before. I couldn't bring myself to make our nightmare so public, and expose my children. I wasn't ready for this. My husband asked me later that night, "If our story can help just one family, will it all be worth it?". I couldn't argue. He was right (as usual). I couldn't let other families go through this because I was too afraid to tell our story. We rescheduled the interview.
The same investigative reporter went even further into what exactly is happening to families due to the child protection team at the University of Michigan, Mott Children's Hospital, directed by Bethany Mohr. That story can be seen here.
The day after our story aired, I awoke to numerous emails and messages from families and individuals looking for help. I knew at that moment I needed to do something. My husband saw it in me before I did. He knew I had the strength to not only get through this, but to help other families get through this as well. I needed to do something for families and individuals who find themselves lost after being accused of a crime they know they did not commit.
This is just one of the many problems that have come about with the introduction of the sub-specialty, child abuse pediatrics. The physicians, mainly pediatricians who take an exam to become "board certified" as an expert in child abuse, are not diagnosing and treating disease. They are accusing families and individuals of a crime. The ethical violations being committed when a physician "teams up" or "works closely with" CPS agencies and law enforcement is staggering.
Our son was born with Rickets. Rickets is a disease in children caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Symptoms of the disease include imperfect calcification, softening and distortion of the bones, which can result in fractures due to normal handling. Laboratory tests confirm our son was bordering on extreme deficiency when he was seen at the University of Michigan April 13, 2018, at just 6 weeks old. Since birth, our son was receiving Vitamin D supplementation as he was exclusively breast fed. Studies confirm the correlation between maternal and fetal Vitamin D levels. In August 2018, 6 months after giving birth, and after the peak of the summer months, my Vitamin D level was checked at routine physical. My level was 8 ng/ml, considered extremely deficient. Why my level was never checked, and why our sons level at birth was never considered can be argued, in my opinion, as either negligence or a willingness to disregard pertinent medical information in order to confirm a diagnosis of abuse, therefore misleading MDHHS, CPS and the courts.
An ultrasound and CT scan, both done prior to a skeletal survey, ruled out abuse. Mott Children's Hospital was on a fishing expedition at my son's expense. They performed unnecessary testing, exposing him to unwarranted and unneeded radiation, searching for abuse. All of these tests continued to show no evidence of abuse.
The smoking gun: A skeletal survey showed a rib fracture. Hours later, this 1 rib fracture was turned into 4 rib fractures. U of M finally had what they needed. But...our son had a Vitamin D level bordering on extreme deficiency. The staff at Mott Children's Hospital claimed my son had no evidence of a genetic bone disorder or metabolic bone disease. The 5th sentence of this same paragraph (in my son's medical record) claims my son in no way had rickets, yet, the physician prescribed the AAP's (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommended treatment for rickets, which was 2,000 international units per day of Vitamin D for six to twelve weeks, followed by maintenance dosing of at least 400 international units per day.
After 8 months, our case was finally dismissed. Our judge, in tears, apologized to us, thanked our attorney, Lisa Kirsch-Satawa, as she presented evidence in our case "rarely seen in his courtroom".
A local investigative reporter who has been investigating the director of the child protection team at Mott's Children's Hospital, the accusing physician in our case, for over 5 years, approached us about doing an interview detailing our 8 month nightmare. Reluctantly, we agreed but, I cancelled the interview the day before. I couldn't bring myself to make our nightmare so public, and expose my children. I wasn't ready for this. My husband asked me later that night, "If our story can help just one family, will it all be worth it?". I couldn't argue. He was right (as usual). I couldn't let other families go through this because I was too afraid to tell our story. We rescheduled the interview.
The same investigative reporter went even further into what exactly is happening to families due to the child protection team at the University of Michigan, Mott Children's Hospital, directed by Bethany Mohr. That story can be seen here.
The day after our story aired, I awoke to numerous emails and messages from families and individuals looking for help. I knew at that moment I needed to do something. My husband saw it in me before I did. He knew I had the strength to not only get through this, but to help other families get through this as well. I needed to do something for families and individuals who find themselves lost after being accused of a crime they know they did not commit.
This is just one of the many problems that have come about with the introduction of the sub-specialty, child abuse pediatrics. The physicians, mainly pediatricians who take an exam to become "board certified" as an expert in child abuse, are not diagnosing and treating disease. They are accusing families and individuals of a crime. The ethical violations being committed when a physician "teams up" or "works closely with" CPS agencies and law enforcement is staggering.
Advocate
After I started receiving messages from other families across the U.S., desperate for any help they can find, I began to realize the true scale of this issue and how many innocent parents and caregivers are falsely accused of child abuse. This is when I began advocating for other families.
The list of things to do is never ending, and every week there is sometimes 2 and 3 new families seeking help.
My advocacy includes helping families and individuals find legal counsel. Legal representation is a must when trying to combat accusation of child abuse made by a child abuse pediatrician. With the help of Lisa Kirsch-Satawa, defense attorney and legal consultant for cases related to child abuse and Shaken Baby Syndrome, now referred to as Abusive Head Trauma, we assist families with their defense against allegations of abuse.
There are several attorneys here in Michigan, and across the U.S., who are dedicated to helping families falsely accused of child abuse. If you or someone you know is being falsely accused of child abuse, please visit the "Resources" page and click on the "Attorney Resources" for more information and a list of attorneys I've worked with.
The list of things to do is never ending, and every week there is sometimes 2 and 3 new families seeking help.
My advocacy includes helping families and individuals find legal counsel. Legal representation is a must when trying to combat accusation of child abuse made by a child abuse pediatrician. With the help of Lisa Kirsch-Satawa, defense attorney and legal consultant for cases related to child abuse and Shaken Baby Syndrome, now referred to as Abusive Head Trauma, we assist families with their defense against allegations of abuse.
There are several attorneys here in Michigan, and across the U.S., who are dedicated to helping families falsely accused of child abuse. If you or someone you know is being falsely accused of child abuse, please visit the "Resources" page and click on the "Attorney Resources" for more information and a list of attorneys I've worked with.
Speaker
Never be afraid to Raise Your voice for Honesty, Truth and Compassion, against Injustice, Lying and Greed. |
May, 2020, I was given the honor and opportunity to be part of the nationally syndicated radio talk program Steel on Steel, hosted by John Loeffler. Mr. Loeffler and the Steel on Steel program is "dedicated to decoding the worldview assumptions held by those in positions of power and influence."
Mr. Loeffler has been hosting the Steel on Steel program for over three decades with the goal of "helping listeners decode the rhetoric of the Progressive movement and defeat Dialectical Postmodernism."
You can listen to the interview with John Loeffler and myself below.
Mr. Loeffler has been hosting the Steel on Steel program for over three decades with the goal of "helping listeners decode the rhetoric of the Progressive movement and defeat Dialectical Postmodernism."
You can listen to the interview with John Loeffler and myself below.
|
|
|
In December, 2019, after Mike Hixenbaugh, investigative journalist with NBC, published the "Do No Harm" series, I was contacted by a producer with CNN and asked to participate in a live interview, along with our attorney, Lisa Kirsch-Satawa. That interview can be seen below.
CNN/HLN Live Interview, December 16, 2019:
|
|
|
After our nightmare ended, November 2018, I have signed up to address the Board of Regents at the University of Michigan, the governing body over the hospital and physicians who falsely accused us, and countless other Michigan families, of child abuse. I have only been allowed to speak three times as of yet, but I will continue to address this board until there is some sort of accountability for the continued bias and negligence stemming from their child protection team.
Here are two of the addresses to the board. The last time I addressed the board was during Covid and was done via unrecorded video conference. You can read my speech below. |
|
University of Michigan - Board of Regents meeting - February 21, 2019
|
|
University of Michigan - Board of Regents meeting - July 18, 2019
|
|
University of Michigan - Board of Regents meeting - September 17, 2020
|
My name is Allie Parker. I’m not sure if you remember me and my family's story.
This is the third time I’ve addressed this board after your hospital’s child protection team director, Bethany Mohr, claimed our son’s injuries were “diagnostic” of abuse. Our case was dismissed by an apologetic judge, but not without significant devastation. I am now an advocate for others who have fallen victim to negligent physicians like Mohr. I am contacted weekly by families across the country looking for help. In the past month, I was contacted by 3 families being accused by this hospital; one being accused by Mohr. U of M will claim the courts are getting it wrong, but science and medical data don’t lie. Physicians who selectively cite medical literature and omit key medical evidence, in an attempt to mislead CPS and the courts, are the ones guilty of deception. Peter Strouse, a radiologist on Mohr’s team, accuses so called “denialists” of selectively citing medical literature and misleading CPS, judges and jurors, which is exactly what the child protection team carry’s out. “The legal system whose sole interest is to establish the innocence of the accused”, says Strouse, “glom on to the denialist literature”, which he claims, “extends to the Supreme Court of the United States. Thankfully physicians have contested Strouse’ distorted claims expressing, “We note that some have accused those who disagree with their approach to diagnosing child abuse as being “denialists,” that is, of denying that child abuse exists. This is incorrect. We believe that child abuse exists; Removing a child from innocent care providers, however, is another form of abuse.” Several of you are physicians. Clearly you must see the pattern of bias. Do you not grasp the ramifications this accusation has on an innocent family, or is it that you simply don’t care because U of M gets to bill insurance for unnecessary testing in their search for only abuse? Testing that often includes CT scans and X-rays, which increases every child’s risk of developing cancer, both of which are rarely warranted given the history and presentation of the child. Bethany Mohr asked first responders in a lecture, “How many kids would potentially be in harm’s way if we only filed on things that were really clear cut?”, her response: “Tons of kids.” This type of reasoning is why your child protection team is prejudice, and it’s frightening to know it’s being taught to others. Innocent families should not be persecuted when their child presents with symptoms that are not “clear cut”. It is irresponsible and unethical for this board to continue to disregard the pleas of innocent families seeking change to your hospital’s negligent practices. Diane Redleaf, a civil rights attorney, published a paper that illustrates the ethical dilemma Mohr and her team’s methods produce. According to Ms. Redleaf, U of M physicians are in violation of 8 AMA Medical Ethics Codes. One being the ethical responsibility to Study and Prevent Error and Harm, which requires that mistakes be acknowledged and measures taken to mitigate the damage done to the family. Several of you on this board are attorneys, so you are aware these physicians cannot be held liable, criminally or civilly, when they misdiagnose a child and accuse a caretaker of abuse. No matter how negligent or illegal their actions are. Those falsely accused by this University may not be able to hold the physicians accountable in the courts, but we can hold them, and this University, accountable in the court of public opinion. Former President, Ronald Reagan, once said, “Common sense can tell the difference between right and wrong. Common sense forgives error, but it always recognizes it to be error first. We endanger the peace when we obscure the truth; refuse to name an act for what it is; and refuse to see the obvious. Each new day carries within it the potential for breakthroughs, for progress.” Today is a new day. It is time to breakthrough this injustice so no more children are harmed by this University and taken away from their family. My name is Allie Parker. If you haven’t already, you will come to know and remember my name. |
|
If you would like to offer me the honor and opportunity to speak for an event, radio program, podcast or television, please feel free to contact me.
|
Writer
I researched so much while we were going through our nightmare, and I continue to research today. After I started receiving emails and messages from other families falsely accused, I found out what an epidemic this is, and also learned about Shaken Baby Syndrome, now referred to as Abusive Head Trauma.
I submitted an article to the editor of Medical Kidnap and Health Impact News. He actually liked it and wanted to publish my paper! We have been working together ever since. I do freelance writing and investigative research as needed. I love this part of my "job", but it's a constant reminder that innocent families and children are being torn apart every day due to bias and negligence in the medical field.
To see a list of my publications, please visit the "Publications" page.
Thank you
I submitted an article to the editor of Medical Kidnap and Health Impact News. He actually liked it and wanted to publish my paper! We have been working together ever since. I do freelance writing and investigative research as needed. I love this part of my "job", but it's a constant reminder that innocent families and children are being torn apart every day due to bias and negligence in the medical field.
To see a list of my publications, please visit the "Publications" page.
Thank you
As a mother who has gone through this nightmare, I know how it feels to be accused of such heinous crimes. I have had to listen to doctors and prosecutors paint me and my husband as monsters, all the while knowing no one would ever harm either of our children. It's hard to imagine or comprehend, impossible in my opinion, to understand what it's like to be accused of harming your own child.
There are countless people falsely accused of a crimes they did not commit, many of whom are currently incarcerated. Whether it's child abuse or something else, to be repeatedly told you did something you know you didn't do is devastating to an individual in so many ways.
As a mother accused and tried for abusing her child, even when found innocent, I was given a life sentence.
There is a light at the end of this very dark and lonely tunnel.
You are NOT alone!
There are countless people falsely accused of a crimes they did not commit, many of whom are currently incarcerated. Whether it's child abuse or something else, to be repeatedly told you did something you know you didn't do is devastating to an individual in so many ways.
As a mother accused and tried for abusing her child, even when found innocent, I was given a life sentence.
There is a light at the end of this very dark and lonely tunnel.
You are NOT alone!