In 2022, after my son suffered injuries from a fall, I was wrongfully accused of child abuse after my son received a diagnosis of non accidental trauma by Dr. Michelle Dominguez a child abuse pediatrician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, PA. Despite my insistence that his injuries were accidental, Dr. Dominguez was adamant that they could only have resulted from non-accidental trauma. My son ended up having two confirmed underlying medical conditions and one medical condition blood clotting disorder I am currently having my son seen for as I found out about during the trial where I was found not guilty . Dr. Dominguez  failed to mentioned my child had a low factor 13. These accusation made by the doctor resulted in my son being placed in kinship care for five grueling months, and I faced criminal charges of assault and engaging the welfare of a child that I was found not guilty of on Oct 23, 2025. All of this occurring due to several underlying medical conditions being overlooked. This ordeal could have been prevented if the hospital had a more comprehensive approach to child protection.

The Child Protection department at St. Christopher’s Hospital currently lacks the diversity of medical expertise necessary to prevent misdiagnosis and wrongful accusations of abuse. As well as confirmation and racial bias. The questions I was asked about my race where ai work how much I made had nothing to do with my sons health but more about my social status. Doctors in this department need to be trained comprehensively across various specialties, including Neurology, Hematology, and Ophthalmology, or have access to specialists in these and other relevant fields to make informed and accurate assessments.

Medical professionals without a broad base of specialized training may inadvertently overlook crucial medical conditions, leading to devastating consequences for families. Statistics from the American Academy of Pediatrics indicate that nearly 1 in every 8 cases of alleged child abuse actually involves serious medical conditions mistaken for abuse due to a lack of thorough medical analysis and consultations.

We urge St. Christopher’s Hospital to restructure its Child Protection department to ensure a multidisciplinary approach. Incorporating experts from various specialties can provide a holistic view of a child’s health, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and protections against unfounded abuse accusations. By emphasizing comprehensive training or the inclusion of diverse specialties in the decision-making process, we can prevent the suffering caused by misdiagnoses.

In addition to safeguarding families, this reform will increase the department’s credibility and effectiveness in truly protecting children who are victims of abuse. We call on the administration at St. Christopher’s Hospital to make these essential changes to better serve families and protect the innocent.

Please sign this petition to help urge St. Christopher’s Hospital to take action and prevent other families from enduring the trauma and injustice we faced. Together, we can make a difference.