In re M.R., 1400 EDA 2020
Decision Date | 01 March 2021 |
Docket Number | No. 1400 EDA 2020, No. 1402 EDA 2020, No. 1403 EDA 2020, No. 1401 EDA 2020,1400 EDA 2020 |
Citation | 247 A.3d 1113 |
Parties | In the INTEREST OF: M.R., a Minor Appeal of: Philadelphia Department of Human Services ("DHS") In the Interest of: M.R., a Minor Appeal of: M.R., Child In the Interest of: J.R., a Minor Appeal of: Philadelphia Department of Human Services ("DHS") In the Interest of: J.R., a Minor Appeal of: J.R., Child |
Court | Pennsylvania Superior Court |
Jennifer MacNaughton, Philadelphia, for appellant.
Christa Frank High, Havertown, for appellee.
Brandi L. McLaughlin, Philadelphia, for B.R., participating party.
Daniel Conner, Philadelphia, for R.R., participating party.
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., OLSON, J., and KING, J.
The Philadelphia Department of Human Services ("DHS") appeals from the June 26, 2020 orders adjudicating dependent M.R., a child, and his twin sister, J.R., a child (collectively, "Children"), but not finding child abuse as to B.R. ("Mother") and R.R. ("Father") (collectively, "Parents"). Children's guardians ad litem ("GAL") also appeal from those same orders. At issue in these appeals is whether the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the testimony of Parents’ expert witness, Marvin Miller, M.D., who opined that metabolic bone disease
of infancy ("MBDI") caused Children's multiple fractures, instead of abuse.1 Alternatively, DHS and GAL contend that, even if Dr. Miller's testimony was admissible, the trial court abused its discretion in declining to find child abuse, given the overwhelming medical evidence presented at the adjudicatory hearing that Children's injuries were caused by abuse. After careful review, we conclude that the trial court improperly admitted Dr. Miller's testimony and, therefore, we reverse its orders refusing to make a finding of child abuse against Parents in each child's case.
The trial court summarized the procedural history and facts of this matter as follows:
. Dr. Henry testified that she underwent the same testing as M.R.[,] with similar results of no underlying genetic or bone disorders. Nemours[ Alfred I. DuPont] Hospital [for Children ("Nemours")] also performed a skeletal survey after [P]arents sought a second medical opinion, which yielded the same results as the CHOP skeletal survey.
Dr. Henry also took a family history during her investigation. She stated that Mother confirmed ... Children were unable to roll. Additionally, she testified that Mother stated M.R. was "fussier than normal" the day prior to his hospitalization. She also reported that [P]arents denied any recent accidental trauma to ... Children. Additionally, Dr. Henry noted that the family history did not contain any known bone diseases. Dr. Henry also stated that ... [P]arents had ... large family support, with numerous family members occasionally watching ... Children.
Dr. Henry concluded that the injuries to Children were the result of non-accidental trauma. Because all of the medical testing performed at CHOP determined ... Children had no underlying genetic or bone disorders, she indicated that the injuries were caused by trauma. With respect to the nature of the injuries, Dr. Henry stated the amount of force necessary to cause the rib fractures is rarely seen in accidental injuries. As a result, Dr. Henry found that ... Children's fractures are most consistent with abuse to a degree of medical certainty.
Dr. Cara Skraban also testified that she is currently employed at CHOP and serves as an attending physician in clinical genetics. All counsel stipulated to Dr. Skraban's expertise in general pediatrics and clinical genetics. Dr. Skraban testified that she performed a consultation for ... Children when they were hospitalized in June 2019. As a part of the consultation, she examined ... Children's radiographs and performed genetic testing. She testified that the radiographs appeared to be normal, which indicated no physical signs of an underlying genetic condition or bone demineralization. Additionally, Dr. Skraban testified that ... Children's genetic testing resulted in no clinically significant markers for osteogenesis imperfecta.[3
] Dr. Skraban found that ... Children did not have an underlying bone disease, osteogenesis imperfecta [,] or other medical condition that would have caused their injuries. Dr. Skraban further testified regarding her review of the report generated by the clinical geneticist at Nemours who was consulted for ... Children, Dr. [Michael] Bober. She stated that Dr. Bober confirmed CHOP's findings after the subsequent skeletal survey and additional testing.
To continue reading
Request your trial