It look's like you don't have Adobe Flash Player installed. Get it now.
In a case involving a Springfield nurse, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the law requiring doctors, nurses, teachers and others to report suspected child abuse. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports on today's court ruling.
THE CASE CENTERED AROUND CLAIMS THAT SPRINGFIELD NURSE LESLIE BROWN VIOLATED THE LAW WHEN SHE DID NOT REPORT TO THE STATE BRUISES FOUND ON THE BODY OF TODDLER DOMINIC JAMES.
JAMES LATER DIED AND HIS FOSTER FATHER WAS CONVICTED IN THE BOY'S DEATH.
SPRINGFIELD ATTORNEY THOMAS CARVER REPRESENTED BROWN BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT AND ARGUED THE LAW IS VAGUE.
HE SAYS SINCE THE COURT'S RULING STATES THE LAW IS NOT VAGUE, THAT MEANS PEOPLE REQUIRED TO ALERT THE STATE OF CHILD ABUSE WILL REPORT MORE CASES OF SUSPECTED ABUSE.
THE CASE AGAINST NURSE LESLIE BROWN HAS BEEN PURSUED BY THE OFFICE OF GREENE COUNTY PROSECUTOR DARRELL MOORE.
HE SAYS HE'S PLEASED WITH THE RULING...
BUT ATTORNEY THOMAS CARVER SAYS THAT THE RULING WILL CAUSE DOCTORS AND NURSES TO FEEL COMPELLED TO REPORT AS POSSIBLE ABUSE EVERY SCRAPE OR BRUISE ON A CHILD WHO COMES TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE SAYS THAT WILL CREATE MORE WORK FOR MISSOURI'S CHILD PROTECTIVE SYSTEM, WHICH IS ALREADY OVERBURDENED.
AGAIN, GREENE COUNTY PROSECUTOR DARRELL MOORE...HE SAYS DOCTORS, NURSES AND OTHER REQUIRED TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE WILL KNOW WHEN TO CONTACT THE STATE BECAUSE THE LAW USES TERMS THAT ANYONE COULD UNDERSTAND...TERMS LIKE "REASONABLE CAUSE TO SUSPECT" AND "REASONABLE SUSPICION."
WHILE CARVER CONTENDS THE RULING WILL LEAD TO MORE REPORTED CASES OF ABUSE, DARRELL MOORE SAYS THAT WON'T HAPPEN.
DARRELL MOORE SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK THE RULING AND HIS PURSUIT OF THIS CASE WILL MAKE PARENTS LESS WILLING TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN THEY'VE HAD AN ACCIDENT.
UNLESS A SETTLEMENT CAN BE REACHED, THE CASE WILL GO TO TRIAL.
THOMAS CARVER SAYS HE HOPES LAWMAKERS WILL REVISIT THE LAW MANDATING SUSPECTED ABUSE BE REPORTED TO THE STATE.
HE SAYS THE LAW SHOULD BE MORE PRECISE IN OUTLINING THE DUTIES OF MANDATED REPORTERS.
