Exposing the Shaken Baby Myth: Josh Burns' Journey to Exoneration

This episode shares the compelling story of Josh Burns, a man falsely accused of shaken baby syndrome and wrongful conviction. Through his experience, we explore the pitfalls of medical misdiagnosis, systemic flaws in child protective services, and the importance of awareness for parents and caregivers in this episode:

• Josh recounts the traumatic events leading up to his daughter's hospitalizations and diagnosis
• The misinterpretation of birth trauma versus abuse and its impact on his case
• How retinal hemorrhages and subdural hematomas can result from medical procedures and birth complications
• The hospital's role, legal battles, and the push for justice
• The psychological toll of being accused, arrested, and separated from his family
• The importance of parental awareness of medical and legal rights in child abuse cases
• Strategies for recognizing medical misdiagnosis and advocating for innocent parents
• Resources for parents navigating complex child medical and legal situations

Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Josh Burns' story and wrongful conviction 00:22 - Josh's background and the events leading to his daughter's birth 00:54 - Details of the traumatic birth and initial hospital stay 01:41 - The accidental fall and symptoms that prompted medical concern 02:25 - The progression of vomiting, hospital visits, and ambulance ride 03:14 - The ambulance experience and emotional distress 04:08 - Hospitalization, tests, and discovery of retinal hemorrhages 04:55 - The initial accusations of abuse and hospital's role 06:53 - How the medical staff dismissed birth trauma explanations 09:08 - The diagnosis of retinal hemorrhages and suspicion of abuse 09:37 - The impact of being treated as criminals and the involvement of child protective services 11:15 - Interrogation by CPS and law enforcement, and parental helplessness 13:34 - The realization that birth trauma can mimic abuse signs 14:04 - The court process, parental rights’ termination 15:22 - The arrest of Josh and the legal battles that followed 16:08 - The trauma of losing custody and separation from his daughter 17:10 - The emotional toll and plea for awareness 19:22 - The importance of medical literacy and parental advocacy 20:10 - The "nuclear option" and hospital corporatism in abuse accusations 21:22 - Court proceedings: civil vs. criminal trials, verdicts, and family reunification 25:50 - Moving out of the home upon daughter's return and emotional reflection 26:19 - The aftermath and lessons learned Resources & Links:

www.unshakentruth.com

www.tornfamily.com

Connect with Josh Burns:

• www.unshakentruth.com
• unshakentruth76@gmail

Music Credits: PB9JA1YI0EVKIZQE 87ZBLE2QPOBV6ZWJ KMNSVHFB0285DL2E ADIWJZ4AWHFZRY1S

Photo credit: Photos of Robert Roberson by Iiana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Project.