Opinion ID: 1098463
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Dr Wood Hiatt, M.D.

Text: Dr. Hiatt was appointed by the court to examine the Newsom children. His interim report, filed February 26, 1987, stated that as a result of preliminary investigation of Karen, Katie, and Eugene he had concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to support an accusation of child abuse. It was only after he was provided with reports of Dr. McCrary's office and Dr. Meeks that he modified his opinion to reflect an impression that Eugene had abused Katie. This change in diagnosis demonstrates the basis on which the accusations of abuse were built. Karen Newsom took the children to a physician and gave a history indicative of abuse. The physician in turn, observed physical evidence which may or may not have indicated abuse. In light of the history, he concluded that the child had been abused. The child was then taken to a psychologist who evaluated the child's behavior in light of the reported history of abuse. There appears to have been a snowball effect at work among the doctors. Before he consulted with Drs. McCrary and Meeks, Dr. Hiatt felt there was no abuse. After consultation, he evaluated the evidence in a different light, finding abuse. We cannot say that the Chancellor was wrong in evaluating Dr. Hiatt's opinion by looking beyond it to the base on which the opinion was formed.