Histopathological features of Eliza Jane Scovill’s and Destiny Jacobo’s lungs with analysis of the causes of death in both cases. Medical Veritas; Vol. 3 (2): 1041-1048, 2006.
Abstract: James K. Ribe is a supervising pathologist for the LA County Coroner who oversaw the investigations in Eliza Jane Scovill’s and Destiny Jacobo’s cases. Eliza Jane suffered from cardiac arrest and died following the administration of four doses of amoxicillin (400 mg twice a day). She died in Los Angeles, California on May 16, 2005 at the age of 3.5 years. Destiny Jacobo, a 21-month-old female toddler died suddenly in December of 1995 in Los Angeles. Ribe concluded that Eliza Jane suffered from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and died of AIDS. He listed the cause of death in Destiny’s case as shaken baby syndrome with associated head trauma. Ribe also alleged that there was forcible rectal insertion causing a retrorectal contusion. My review of the medical evidence in Eliza Jane’s case clearly indicates that Eliza Jane died as a result of allergic reaction to amoxicillin and she did not die of AIDS. The histological features of her lungs show no evidence of inflammation and fibrosis. Ribe’s allegation that Eliza Jane suffered from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is not supported by the clinical data and medical facts. Furthermore, my review of the medical evidence in Destiny’s case revealed that she suffered from severe acute hemorrhagic pneumonia and septicemia. The bleeding in her case was caused by septicemia and vitamin K deficiency. It also shows that James Ribe’s allegations of shaken baby syndrome and sexual abuse made in Destiny’s case are not supported by medical facts.Analysis of causes that led to subdural bleeding, skull and rib fractures, and death in the case of baby Averial BuieMedical Veritas. 4: 1452-69.
Abstract: A female infant from Texas stopped breathing and her mother took her to the hospital. Blood analysis revealed the baby suffered from severe metabolic and respiratory acidosis, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, and lymphocytosis. A chest X-ray showed evidence of pneumonitis. Physical ex-amination revealed no evidence of injury caused by trauma. She was treated with epinephrine, sodium bicarbonate, antibiotic, and other medications. She developed bleeding outside the skull and intracranially. No skull or rib fractures were noted on the CT scans and X-rays taken during the fist four days following admission. However, skull and rib fractures were observed on the CT scan and X-rays taken at a later date.
Resuscitation efforts failed and the baby died at 11 days following admission. At autopsy, the medical examiner (ME) found healed skull and rib fractures, bleeding of various ages outside the skull and intracranially, and brain edema and necrosis. His microscopic examination of the H & E stained sections of the lung revealed evidence of bronchopneumonia, hyaline membranes in the alveoli, and bleeding. The ME alleged that the baby’s injuries were caused by trauma and her father was accused of killing her.
[Dr. Al-Bayati’s] investigation reveals that the infant suffered from acute bronchopneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome on August 6, 2004, which led to hypoxemia, severe metabolic and respiratory acidosis, hyperkalemia, loss of consciousness, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. Her bleeding, brain edema and necrosis, and skull and rib fractures occurred in the hospital. These injures were caused by infection and medications.
Analysis of Causes That Led to Baby Alan Ream Yurko’s Cardiac Arrest and Death in November of 1997. Medical Veritas; Vol. 1 (2): 201-231, 2004.Abstract:
In November of 1997, Mr. Alan R. Yurko was accused of, and arrested for, killing his son, the two-and-a-half month old baby Alan Ream Yurko, by vigorous shaking of the head. Mr. Yurko was convicted by a jury in 1999 and sentenced to spend his life + 10 years in prison. Mr. Yurko and his wife, Francine, requested that I evaluate their case to find the factual cause(s) that led to baby Alan’s cardiac arrest and death in November of 1997. I evaluated their case by reviewing the baby’s medical records, H & E stained tissue sections of Alan’s organs obtained at the time of autopsy, the autopsy report, Francine’s medical record during her pregnancy with Alan, the trial document and testimonies of expert witnesses, and related published medical literature. I used differential diagnosis to evaluate the contribution of causes and the synergistic actions among these causes that led to the cardiac arrest, apnea, subdural bleeding, and death in this case.
Analysis of Causes that Led to Subdural Bleeding and Rib Fractures in the Case of Baby Patrick Gorman. Medical Veritas; Vol. 3 (2): 1019-1040, 2006.
Abstract: Patrick and his twin sister, Peyton, were born 5 weeks premature. He suffered from acute abdominal and nonspecific symptoms at the age of 21&Mac218;2 months. CT scans, X-ray, and eye exams revealed that he had subdural and subretinal bleeding and seven rib fractures in various stages of healing. He also had severe anemia, thrombocytosis, low blood creatinine levels, hyperglycemia, and elevated neutrophills and monocyte counts. The treating physicians alleged that Patrick’s health problems resulted from shaking [shaken baby syndrome (SBS)] and child abuse. Patrick’s parents were accused of causing Patrick’s injuries. My investigation revealed that Patrick’s acute symptoms resulted from acetaminophen intoxication. Patrick was treated with Tylenol/cold and he received about 200 mg of acetaminophen per day (64 mg/kg) and 3200 mg per 16 days. He was also treated with Zantac® (ranitidine) and Zantac® potentiates the hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen. The subdural and subretinal bleeding was caused by vitamin K deficiency, intoxication with acetaminophen, and severe anemia. The healed rib fractures occurred due to vitamin K and protein deficiencies and chronic coughing. It seems that the treating physicians alleged that Patrick’s health problems resulted from abuse, without considering the clinical data that lead to different causes, or performing differential diagnosis in this case.
Analysis of Causes That Led to Baby Lucas Alejandro
Abstract: Lisa Mullenax and her husband Alejandro Mendez were accused of killing their 3½ month old Baby Lucas by blunt force trauma to the head (Shaken Baby Syndrome). The baby suffered from cardiac arrest and apnea on August 27, 2002 and his father immediately sought the assistance of a neighbor who contacted the Medical Emergency Service (MES) asking for help. The MES resuscitated the baby, treated him with epinephrine, and transported him to the Centre Community Hospital. Lucas stayed about one hour in this hospital and then was airlifted to the Geisinger Medical Center. Lucas was pronounced brain dead after six days following his arrival to the Geisinger Medical Center. In the hospitals, several physicians examined Baby Lucas and no evidence of traumatic injuries to the head was observed. In addition, Lucas’ head region was examined by CT scans on August 27 and no bone fracture was found. Lisa and Alejandro were accused of killing their Baby Lucas based only on the autopsy findings of an old-healed rib fracture and bleeding in the retina of the eyes, brain, and the subdural space. Lisa and Alejandro requested that I evaluate their case to find the factual cause(s) that led to Lucas’ cardiac arrest and death. I evaluated their case by reviewing the baby’s medical records, case history, the autopsy report, Lisa’s medical record during her pregnancy with Lucas, and the published medical literature pertinent to Lucas’ case. I used differential diagnosis to evaluate the contribution of causes and the synergistic actions among these causes that led to the baby’s cardiac arrest, apnea, bleeding in the brain and other locations, and death.
I present my review and analysis of Lisa’s medical records during her pregnancy with Lucas in Section I of this report. Section II contains a detailed description of Baby Lucas’ treatment history and his health problems from the time of birth on May 16, 2002 to the day of his cardiac arrest on August 27, 2002 along with my analysis of those events. In Sections III and IV, I describe the clinical events that took place during Lucas’ seven days in the hospitals and my analysis of those events. My analysis of the medical examiner’s autopsy report is presented in Section V. Section VI contains my conclusions and recommendations.
Analysis of causes that led to Toddler Alexa Shearer’s cardiac arrest and death in November 1999. Medical Veritas; Vol. 1(1): 86-117, 2004.Analysis of causes that led to Baby Robert’s respiratory arrest and death in August of 2000. Medical Veritas; Vol. 1 (2):179-200, 2004
Abstract: Brian Herlihy is a 32-year-old, white man accused of and arrested for killing Baby Robert by vigorous shaking in August of 2000. Robert was a 4½-month-old infant who suffered from respiratory arrest while at Brian’s apartment on the morning of August 2, 2000. That day, Robert’s mother arrived at Brian’s apartment shortly after 0900 and asked him to watch the baby for a short time. He had cared for the baby on five occasions in the past for a few hours per day. On August 3, 2000 Brian was arrested based on verbal communications between the treating physicians and the police while the baby was still alive in the hospital. The treating physicians told the police that the baby was suffering from injuries caused by shaking. Baby Robert died August 10, 2000. I evaluated the medical evidence in this case using differential diagnosis. My findings clearly show that baby Robert died as a result of adverse reactions to medications and vaccines that were given to him by the healthcare providers. Brian Herlihy is innocent and should be released from prison. Also, the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is a theory that should be re-evaluated and is not supported by science in this case.
Did Bryant Arroyo kill Baby Jordan Anthony Shenk, as alleged by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? January 7, 2005. Lancaster County, PA Medical Veritas; Vol. 2 (1): 367-382, 2005.Abstract: Bryant Arroyo was arrested in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on 26 September, 1994 in connection with baby Jordan's death. On 10 May 1995, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. The medical examiner testified at Bryant’s preliminary hearing and trial that Jordan was killed by blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen, and that the manner of death was homicide.
My investigation of this case clearly showed that Jordan died as a result of serious illnesses that led to his cardiac arrest and bleedings on 25 September 1994. He had brain disease (spongiosis of the cerebral cortex and white matter, and focal Purkinje cell dropout in the cerebellum); aspiration pneumonitis; sepsis; inflammation of the liver, gallbladder, and the mesentery; thymus atrophy; and weight loss. These lesions and symptoms have been reported in children with propionic acidemia and other metabolic problems involving branched amino acids. Jordan’s symptoms and lesions indicate that he probably suffered from genetic illness that led to the development of propionic acidemia and his death. The government and the medical authority in the State of Pennsylvania should evaluate the medical evidence that shows Bryant was falsely accused and unjustly convicted of killing Jordan because the factual causes of illness and death in this case were not revealed to the jury. I believe that Bryant should be released from prison immediately and should be compensated for his pain and suffering and time wrongly spent in prison.
Analysis of causes that led to rib and skull fractures, sudden illness, intracranial bleeding, and death in the case of toddler Roman Pitts by M. A. Al-Bayati (234 KB)
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