Families allege LVHN doctor wrongfully accused them of child abuse

Lehigh County Board of Commissioners Meeting Addresses Alleged “Medical Kidnapping” by Lehigh Valley Health Network

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – At an emotional Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday night, dozens of families who claim to have been affected by alleged “medical kidnapping” by Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) spoke out against the hospital’s treatment of children.

The families’ comments were prompted by a report titled “The Cost of Misdiagnosis,” which was released on Wednesday by Lehigh County controller Mark Pinsley.

Systemic Overdiagnosis of Medical Child Abuse in the Lehigh Valley

The report highlights a “systemic overdiagnosis” of medical child abuse in the Lehigh Valley. Although the report does not specifically name the facilities involved in the overdiagnoses, LVHN’s John Van Brakle Child Advocacy Center is the only facility in the area that manages such child abuse cases.

The report specifically mentions Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP), an extremely rare mental condition in which parents or adults falsely convince children that they are suffering from serious illnesses.

Pinsley expressed concern over the fact that the northeast region of Pennsylvania, which includes Lehigh County, accounts for only 11% of the youth population but has 40% of the reported Munchausen syndrome cases.

In light of these statistics, Pinsley is urging the county and local hospitals to revise their protocols and procedures to prevent future misdiagnoses and unnecessary removal of children from their families. He suggests that Lehigh County should require a second opinion when considering the diagnosis of medical child abuse.

Families Share Their Experiences

During the meeting, many families accused LVHN pediatrician Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen and her associates of intentionally making false MSBP diagnoses when their children were taken to the emergency room.

According to the families, these misdiagnoses were used to turn sick children against their parents during long unsupervised hospital stays and to frame the parents as child abusers. The families claimed that LVHN would involve Pennsylvania Child & Youth Services (CYS) to take custody of their children.

One man shared his experience of taking his infant daughter to LVHN after accidentally dropping her and causing head injuries. He was falsely accused of abuse and had to engage in a lengthy legal battle with CYS to prevent his daughter from being taken away.

Another woman recounted taking her infant son to LVHN after she and her boyfriend saved him from choking to death. Despite multiple witnesses supporting their story, Jenssen insisted that the infant’s condition was the result of shaken baby syndrome. As a result, the couple lost custody of their child, and the child’s father was incarcerated for several months.

Another couple reported that their 11-year-old son, who has a mitochondrial disorder and is autistic, was deprived of necessary medication and not allowed to contact his parents while under Jenssen’s care. The boy was taken by CYS but later returned after a legal battle. However, the couple stated that their son continues to be traumatized by the experience.

Other families shared similar stories of children being placed in abusive foster homes by CYS after false accusations of abuse, despite no evidence of abuse while living with their families.

Overall, the families are united in their demand for the removal of Dr. Debra Jenssen from her position at LVHN to ensure the safety of future patients.

Call for Investigation and Change

Attorney Joe Welsh of the Lehigh Valley Institute spoke in support of the families and advised the community to urge the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office to open an investigation into the alleged medical kidnapping by LVHN. If unsuccessful, Welsh suggested taking the case to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

Lehigh County Board of Commissioners Chairman Geoff Brace agreed with Welsh, stating that the county has a “legal and moral obligation” to investigate the claims against LVHN.

LVHN’s Response

LVHN responded to the report, stating that the Lehigh County Controller has no jurisdiction over the John Van Brakle Child Advocacy Center and lacks the clinical credentials to conduct a review of a clinician or their services. LVHN disagreed with the controller’s conclusions and emphasized that Munchausen’s by Proxy perpetrators can have more than one victim.

Support for Change

The families stand in support of Pinsley’s report and are calling for change to prevent others from experiencing what they have gone through.

“I want Debra Jenssen fired so we can feel safe again taking our children to the hospital,” said one person.

Jenssen did not respond directly, but LVHN responded on behalf of both the organization and the doctor.

Statement from Lehigh County Department of Human Services

The Lehigh County Department of Human Services issued a statement expressing concern about the one-sided presentation of facts and conclusions in Pinsley’s report. The department defended the professionalism and dedication of its caseworkers and attorneys, stating that they are committed to the protection of children and youth. The department also mentioned that any case involving the removal of a child from their parents must be presented to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas before emergency placement.

The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners will convene again on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.
• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 3.2: Neonatal mortality rate and under-5 mortality rate.
• Indicator for SDG 5.2: Number of cases of violence against women and girls reported and addressed.
• Indicator for SDG 10.2: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
• Indicator for SDG 16.6: Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: wfmz.com

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