Young babies (ages one and under) can suffer serious traumatic injury and even death if shaken or jostled by a caregiver or other adult. The constellation of resultant medical problems is known as shaken baby syndrome. Essentially, when an abusive adult jostles an infant back and forth (out of frustration or malicious intent), the child’s brain can actually slosh back and forth inside the skull, leading to damage to nerve tissue, blood vessels, and even the skull itself. Shaken baby syndrome can lead to inflammation, seizures, deafness, damage to the eyes, disabilities, blindness, brain damage, and death.
For parents of a "shaken baby," the experience and aftermath can be horrifying and traumatic. Endangering a baby’s life constitutes a criminal act, and if you stand accused of hurting an infant, the court may impose a battery of penalties on you, including jail time, forced restitution to the victimized baby (and the baby’s family) for ongoing medical care as well as pain and suffering, and a host of other fees, restrictions, and punishments.
Shaken baby syndrome may first "present" in a number of ways. A parent may notice that the baby won’t eat. The baby may lack alertness, have trouble breathing, or appear pale or suddenly sickly. Given that shaken baby syndrome leads to internal injuries, a parent may not see outward trauma. Examinations such as MRIs, x-rays, CAT Scans, and ophthalmological exams must be used to pinpoint whether shaken baby syndrome has occurred and, if so, to identify the nature and scale of the physical damage.
Defending yourself from charges of shaken baby syndrome
Perhaps you are a hired caregiver who has been wrongly accused of harming a 6-month old under your daily care. Or maybe you’re a new parent who lost her nerve due to sleeplessness, irritation, poor coping skills, abuse of prescription medications, or some other factor or factors.
In any case, given the serious charges against you – and the potential punishments that might await you if you are convicted — it behooves you to retain a skilled and compassionate Southern California criminal defense attorney. Maltaise Cini is a former public defender based out of Newport Beach. She has dealt with literally thousands of criminal cases in her 17 years as a practicing lawyer. Learn more about how the Law Offices of Maltaise Cini can help you at www.maltaisecinilaw.com, or call 949-660-1389 to schedule a case evaluation today.