Seine-et-Marne: 18-month-old child taken from his parents after a diagnostic error - BFM Île de France

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02/03/2023 at 8:11 p.m.

After several fractures, an 18-month-old boy was placed in care by Child Welfare Services, which suspected the parents of abuse, reveals Le Parisien.

In Seine-et-Marne, a couple had custody of their 18-month-old son taken away after a misdiagnosis, reports Le Parisien . The life of this family living in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre was turned upside down on March 19, 2021 when Child Welfare took little Léon away from his parents suspected of abuse.

The case began with a trivial fracture of the femur at the family home in December 2020, the daily reports. The little boy was taken to the hospital in Meaux. The event repeated itself three months later, at his nanny's. Once again, Léon fractured his femur.

The Meaux hospital gave the little boy a general health check. Tests "to make sure there was no mistreatment, which I found completely logical, and even reassuring," Léon's mother told Le Parisien .

Silverman syndrome not ruled out

The little patient's medical file is being sent to Bicêtre Hospital. His case is "discussed in a multidisciplinary consultation meeting, in the presence of several specialist pediatricians, pediatric radiologists and with the participation in audioconference of a pediatrician from Meaux Hospital," AP-HP's communication confirms to Le Parisien .

On March 16, the health check-up turned into a nightmare for the family from Seine-et-Marne. The hypothesis of Silverman syndrome (observed in battered children) was not ruled out, reports Le Parisien. Bicêtre Hospital recommended that Meaux Hospital undergo further testing.

The head of the general pediatrics department at Meaux hospital said she had made "the necessary checks" and had sent a report to the Cell for the Collection, Processing and Evaluation of Concerning Information (Crip). However, according to the little boy's family, no examination had been carried out.

Child falls in nursery

The machine is racing. A gendarmerie investigation is opened. The parents are questioned by the Medico-Legal Unit. The public prosecutor then issues a provisional placement order on March 19.

A placement of "a few days" that saves the family. "The child falls again under the supervision of a dedicated person in the nursery", reports Le Parisien. The child is taken to Trousseau hospital. Both his legs are in plaster.

The diagnosis is made. Leon is not a battered child, but suffers from brittle bone disease. He is returned to his family on April 2.

The child's parents have since filed a complaint with the first two hospitals seeking compensation for the moral and financial damages. This complaint was ultimately dismissed.