Opinion ID: 4241419
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Supporting Declarations

Text: Fero submitted declarations from Drs. Patrick Barnes and Janice Ophoven in support of her petition. Dr. Ophoven, a pediatric forensic pathologist, and Dr. Barnes, a pediatric neuroradiologist, specialize in shaken baby syndrome and pediatric head trauma.^ Both physicians focused on changes in the medical understanding of shaken baby syndrome and infant head injuries since Fero's trial. In his declaration. Dr. Barnes explains that alternative explanations for symptoms once associated with shaken baby syndrome have expanded to include ® Dr. Barnes is the chief of pediatric neuroradiology at Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital and professor of radiology at Stanford Medical Center. He has practiced, taught, and published articles, reviews, and book chapters on head injury in children for 35 years. Dr. Ophoven has expertise in shaken baby syndrome cases and has practiced as a physician for nearly 40 years. 18 In re Pers. Restraint Petition ofHeidi Charlene Fero, No. 92975-1 accidental and natural causes. Since 2003, members of the scientific community now question whether the brain swelling and bleeding in the eyes and brain are definitive signs of shaken baby syndrome. In the 1990s, doctors routinely testified that the force necessary to cause hemorrhaging in children was equivalent to the force from a high speed car accident or fall from multistory building. Dr. Barnes asserts that several literature reviews have shown no scientific basis for this testimony. Barnes Deck at 5 (included as an exhibit in Opening Br. in Supp. of Pers. Restraint Pet.). He also states that researchers have recognized that children who suffer trauma can remain lucid (conscious)for up to three days or more after injury. Dr. Barnes concludes,[I]t is impossible to tell ... in the medical record when Brynn was injured, and there is a significant chance that she was injured before she arrived at Ms. Fero's home. Id. at 26-27. Dr. Barnes states in his declaration that the medical community once universally accepted that victims of shaken baby syndrome would fall unconsciousness immediately after injury. Since Fero's trial, it is now generally accepted that short and accidental falls can cause injuries like Brynn's and children can be lucid and appear symptom-free for up to three days. Ophoven Deck at 4 (included as an exhibit in Opening Br. of Supp. of Pers. Restraint Pet.). Dr. Ophoven concludes that Brynn suffered a traumatic brain injury but could not determine whether the injury was accidental or nonaccidental or whether 19 In re Pers. Restraint Petition ofHeidi Charlene Fero, No. 92975-1 an adult or child caused it. The doctor also explains that the timing of Brynn's injuries could not be exactly determined but that [i]t is more likely [she] suffered her injuries between 12 and 24 hours before arriving at the hospital. Id. at 3.