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'''Shaken Baby Syndrome''' (SBS) was defined by Dr. John Caffey in 1972.<ref>Caffey J: On the theory and practice of shaking infants. American Journal of Diseases in Children 124(2):161-169, August 1972, cited in [http://www.susancanthony.com/Resources/SBS/sbsres.html Shaken Baby Syndrome Resources] by Susan C. Anthony</ref>

'''Shaken Baby Syndrome''' (SBS) was defined by Dr. John Caffey in 1972.<ref>Caffey J: On the theory and practice of shaking infants. American Journal of Diseases in Children 124(2):161-169, August 1972, cited in [http://www.susancanthony.com/Resources/SBS/sbsres.html Shaken Baby Syndrome Resources] by Susan C. Anthony</ref>

   

   

It is used as a theory of [[prosecution]] promoted by [[government]] child protective services, which claims that thousands of [[infant]] [[death]]s each year are caused by the shaking of babies by parents, daycare workers, babysitters and other caregivers.  This theory has resulted in many convictions of caregivers of [[murder]] or [[manslaughter]].  Prosecutors rarely attempt to convict a mother of SBS, because juries are most skeptical about accusations that a mother killed her own infant.  But if the caregiver was a father or anyone other than the mother and an infant unexpectedly dies, then prosecutors will often convict the caregiver of manslaughter or murder despite a lack of any outward sign of injury.<ref>One of thousands of examples of such prosecutions is described [http://www.susancanthony.com/Resources/SBS/sbsres.html here].</ref>

It is used as a theory of [[prosecution]] promoted by [[government]] child protective services, which claims that thousands of infant [[death]]s each year are caused by the shaking of babies by parents, daycare workers, babysitters and other caregivers.  This theory has resulted in many convictions of caregivers of [[murder]] or [[manslaughter]].  Prosecutors rarely attempt to convict a mother of SBS, because juries are most skeptical about accusations that a mother killed her own infant.  But if the caregiver was a father or anyone other than the mother and an infant unexpectedly dies, then prosecutors will often convict the caregiver of manslaughter or murder despite a lack of any outward sign of injury.<ref>One of thousands of examples of such prosecutions is described [http://www.susancanthony.com/Resources/SBS/sbsres.html here].</ref>

Increasingly, independent medical experts have doubted or even completely rejected the theory when there is a lack of outward physical signs of abuse.<ref>http://www.sbsdefense.com/</ref>  Yet thousands of defendants are in jail, some for life, for allegedly causing the death of an infant lacking any outward sign of injury.  The [[CDC]], for example, estimates that 1200 to 1600 children die annually from Shaken Baby Syndrome.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/cmfacts.htm</ref>

Increasingly, independent medical experts have doubted or even completely rejected the theory when there is a lack of outward physical signs of abuse.<ref>http://www.sbsdefense.com/</ref>  Yet thousands of defendants are in jail, some for life, for allegedly causing the death of an infant lacking any outward sign of injury.  The [[CDC]], for example, estimates that 1200 to 1600 children die annually from Shaken Baby Syndrome.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/cmfacts.htm</ref>