Citation

Debelle GD, Maguire S, Watts P, Nieto Hernandez R, Kemp AM. Arch. Dis. Child. 2018; 103(6): 606-610.

Affiliation

Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/archdischild-2017-313855

PMID

29510999

Abstract

The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) has recently published what they purported to be a systematic review of the literature on 'isolated traumatic shaking' in infants, concluding that 'there is limited evidence that the so-called triad (encephalopathy, subdural haemorrhage, retinal haemorrhage) and therefore its components can be associated with traumatic shaking'. This flawed report, from a national body, demands a robust response. The conclusions of the original report have the potential to undermine medico-legal practice. We have conducted a critique of the methodology used in the SBU review and have found it to be flawed, to the extent that children's lives may be put at risk. Thus, we call on this review to be withdrawn or to be subjected to international scrutiny.

© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Language: en

Keywords

child abuse; evidence based medicine; forensic medicine