When Child Abuse Pediatricians Get It Wrong: How Families Pay the Price

Mistakes in any profession can have serious consequences. If a Crime Scene Investigator makes an error, an innocent person could end up in prison. If a doctor misdiagnoses a patient, the wrong illness is treated while the real one gets worse. And when a Child Abuse Pediatrician (CAP) is wrong, the fallout for families can be devastating—lives are turned upside down, bank accounts are drained by legal fees, reputations are destroyed, and sometimes, families are torn apart.

If this sounds extreme, it’s because the stakes are that high.

The Timmerman Family: A Cautionary Tale

Consider the Timmerman family from Houston, Texas. Their ordeal is a textbook example of what can go wrong when a CAP makes a faulty assumption. Tim and Anne Marie Timmerman rushed their infant, Tristan, to the ER after finding her unresponsive in her crib. The initial assessment was that Tristan’s small brain bleed was likely related to birth trauma—a reassuring diagnosis for terrified parents.

But that changed quickly. A hospital Child Abuse Pediatrician reviewed the case, and suddenly, the parents were accused of shaking their baby. The Timmermans insisted they had done nothing wrong. But that didn’t matter. CPS stepped in and removed their child based solely on the CAP’s opinion.

NBC News, which reported on this story, noted that child abuse pediatricians are present in most major children’s hospitals and work closely with CPS and police, often providing the “expert” opinion that triggers family separation and criminal charges. While their role is to protect children, sometimes, in their zeal, innocent parents are caught in the crossfire.

Months of Heartache, Even When Proven Innocent

The Timmermans spent almost a year fighting for their family. For seven agonizing months, baby Tristan was placed with her grandparents, and the judge only allowed him to live with his mother if his father was never left alone with him. Eventually, the state reversed its findings, admitting there was no solid evidence of abuse. But the trauma and lost time couldn’t be undone.

Why Do CPS Workers Rely So Heavily on CAPs?

Most CPS workers don’t have medical backgrounds. When medical findings are unclear but a CAP insists an injury is from abuse, CPS usually follows the doctor’s lead—sometimes without questioning other possible explanations. As a result, families who’ve done nothing wrong can spend months or years (and thousands of dollars) fighting to stay together. Sadly, not every family wins.

If CPS Is Accusing You, Get Legal Help—Fast

Here in Michigan, these cases are not rare. We see families every year who are wrongly accused based on a hasty or unsupported medical opinion. If you find yourself in this nightmare, you need experienced, aggressive legal help—immediately.

At The Kronzek Firm, our child abuse defense attorneys know how to challenge flawed medical findings, work with independent experts, and fight to reunite families. Call us at 866-766-5245—we’re available 24/7, and we’ll help you protect your family and your future.