A Dance With Death In Texas
Robert Robertson Scheduled To Be Executed October 2024 in Texas
In 2003, Robert Robertson's daughter Nikki Curtis was ill for most of her short life, having chronic antibiotics and persistent infections. Robertson and his estranged wife, with Nikki's maternal grandparents, are the primary caregivers. Eventually, Robertson was given full custody shortly after Nikki's 2nd birthday.
On January 28, 2002, Robertson took Nikki to the ER room for vomiting, coughing, and diarrhea. The following day, he took her to a pediatrician as her fever spiked to 104 degrees, with the doctor prescribing medication.
The medications prescribed were Phenergan, now labeled "Black Box" by the FDA, along with codeine cough syrup that depresses respiratory functions and breathing problems. While sleeping, Robertson woke at home when he heard Nikki crying and realized she had fallen out of bed. He took Nikki and put her in bed with him, and later, when he woke, he saw she had stopped breathing and turned blue.
He rushed her to the hospital, and a CAT scan was performed, revealing internal head conditions, bleeding on the brain, and retinal hemorrhaging. Two days later, Nikki was taken off life support and pronounced dead. Robert Robinson was charged, convicted, and sentenced to death.
Cracks Emerging For Shaken Baby syndrome
Cracks began to be seen as study after study showed that other medical problems mimicked shaken baby syndrome. Dr. Norman Guthkelch originally coined shaken baby syndrome in 1971 in a medical paper. The doctor has since changed his belief that shaken baby syndrome is too often wrongfully used in the courtroom.
He has spent years attempting to correct his original thesis. He has been struck by the high proportion of abuse that has not factored in other causes of natural or congenital reasons.
Many doctors, scientists, innocent groups, federal judges, and even best-selling novelist John Grisham believe the rush to judgment is wrong. The leading investigator, Byran Wharton, believes Robertson to be innocent and that "no other possibilities were even considered, and I deeply regret we followed the easiest path."
Statistics of Shaken Baby Syndrome
An estimated 1-3000 babies die each year from abusive head trauma, referred to as shaken baby syndrome, with over 200 defendants being sent to prison or given the death penalty.
Shaken baby syndrome is an assumption, NOT a diagnosis. In the last several years, over 30 cases of parents or caregivers found guilty of shaken baby syndrome have been exonerated, yet the stigma follows them for life.
There are far too many other medical reasons that can appear as shaken baby syndrome. Medical professionals need to evaluate everything before giving a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.
Sources Used
grrps://slate.com
https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
https://centerforhealthjournalism,org
https://washingtonpst.com
https://innocentproject.org
