Summary
Overview
This episode follows Amanda Surinofsky's harrowing journey through the child welfare system after her newborn son was injured in what she claims was an accident involving her toddler. Despite Amanda's explanation, Dr. Deborah Asernio-Jensen's child protection team diagnosed abusive head trauma, leading to the removal of all five of Amanda's children for nearly four years. The episode explores the devastating impact of family separation, questions the certainty of medical diagnoses in abuse cases, and reveals Amanda's ongoing struggle to reunite her family—including a custody battle for her youngest son who has been in foster care so long he barely knows her as his mother.
Hospital and County Officials Defend Their Actions
Two years after families testified at the Lehigh County Commissioner's meeting, 27 families are now suing Dr. Jensen and Lehigh Valley Health Network. Despite attempts to interview hospital decision-makers, they declined due to pending litigation, instead pointing to court filings that defend Dr. Jensen as heroic and dedicated. County officials maintain a 'better safe than sorry' approach to child welfare, arguing it's preferable to have parents upset than to risk a child's safety.
- 27 families are suing Lehigh Valley Health Network and Dr. Jensen for medical malpractice, negligence, and malicious prosecution
- Hospital defends Dr. Jensen as 'dedicated, passionate, eminently qualified' and 'heroic,' claiming the lawsuits are retribution from parents who actually harmed their children
- County Executive Phil Armstrong maintains confidence in the system, prioritizing child safety over parental complaints
- Armstrong emphasizes an 'absolutely' better safe than sorry approach, stating he'd rather parents 'yell at me later' than risk a child's safety
" If the parents are going to yell at me later, as long as I ensured the child's safety, I would make that my number one priority. "
The Night Everything Changed
In December 2019, 31-year-old Amanda Surinofsky was awakened at 5:30 a.m. by a thud—her two-year-old daughter had taken the seven-week-old baby from his bassinet and dropped him while apparently trying to change his diaper. Amanda called 911, and at the hospital, doctors discovered brain bleeds and fractures. Despite Amanda's explanation of what happened, Dr. Rashida Doshi concluded the injuries required 'tremendous force' and diagnosed abusive head trauma, leading to the immediate removal of all five children.
- Amanda had five children, ages eight years down to seven weeks, when the incident occurred
- Her toddler removed the baby from the bassinet at 5:30 a.m.; the baby was found on the floor with his onesie unzipped and diaper off
- Hospital diagnosed brain bleed and fractures, which Dr. Doshi said could only result from 'violent shaking with impact' or car accident, not a short fall
- Amanda had previous involvement with child welfare, including an ex-boyfriend indicated for abuse and her current partner Janio investigated by Dr. Jensen
- All five children were removed and Amanda faced 5 felonies and 2 misdemeanors with potential 30+ year sentence
" I'll die if they take my babies. Everybody knows how I am. The littlest thing, I'm like, oh my God, oh my God, they're going to do this. I immediately panic because I don't want to deal with these people. "
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