Florida Legislator Files “Patterson’s Law” to Help Protect Parents’ Rights in Suspected Child Abuse Cases through Medical Examinations

A Broward County legislator has filed a new law that would “guarantee parents the right to request examinations from a licensed physician in the event of suspected child abuse.” The legislation, coined “Patterson’s Law,” comes on the heels of two suspected child abuse cases in which parents of the children were suspected of child abuse, even though the children suffered from medical conditions that experts say caused their injuries.

In the case that gave the new legislation its name, parents Michael and Tasha Patterson were accused of abusing their two young sons, who both suffer from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The Pattersons are suspected of abusing the boys because the boys suffered multiple broken bones during an emergency room visit. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a “rare genetic disorder that causes easy bruising and fragile bones.” Despite one doctor stating that the “twins had fractured bones in utero,” and another advising that the two boys “‘continued to show new fractures while the child was not in’ their parents’ custody,” the boys were taken from the Patterson’s custody and they have not yet been reunited with them.

The Pattersons are not the only family that have suffered from family separation “due to a lack of properly diagnosed medical conditions.” In a previous case that happened in Jacksonville, Florida, parents of a young girl were threatened to be “jailed, tortured and executed” after “it was discovered that their young daughter had more broken bones than weeks in her life.” The girl, along with her siblings, were taken away by the DCF and were “fast-tracked” for adoption. Meanwhile, the girl’s parents were charged with felony child abuse. After a legal battle, it ultimately came to light that the girl suffered from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The State of Florida ultimately dropped the charges against the young girl’s parents, but irreparable damage had been done.

Finding Legal Help with Your Criminal Case in Miami

No parent should have to go through the terrible, life-altering experience of being criminally charged with child abuse alone. It is important for Miami parents to know that they have rights and options if they are charged with a crime under Florida criminal laws, and they have the right to an attorney to fight for them. If you are in the Miami area and you need legal help defending yourself against the criminal charges you are facing, do not hesitate to speak to an experienced Miami criminal attorney about your case. The experienced Miami criminal attorneys at AsiliA Law Firm are here to help Miami parents get justice in the cases against them.

If you are in the Miami area and you need legal help with your criminal case, contact the experienced Miami criminal attorneys at AsiliA Law Firm. The experienced Miami criminal attorneys at Asilia Law Firm can help by listening to your story to see if they can fight for you. Contact AsiliA Law Firm today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

miamitimesonline.com/news/local/broward-county-dem-barbara-sharief-files-patterson-s-law-to-help-parents-disprove-false-child/article_04954898-d87f-11ef-b43d-b3607379e375.html