DeSantis signs bipartisan child protective probe measure

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure designed to provide time and opportunity for medical evaluations and second opinions when conditions such as Rickets, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or Vitamin D deficiency could explain otherwise concerning signs of child abuse, before parents are arrested.

The bipartisan, unanimously approved, measure, HB 47, was sponsored by Reps. Robin Bartleman, a Democrat from Weston, and Patt Maney, a Republican from Shalimar.

Bipartisan support for considering rare medical conditions in child protective probes

During the legislative session, Bartleman said similar bills in other states have passed and that Florida is “behind the 8-ball.”

“The signing of this bill marks an important step toward ensuring child abuse investigations are fair, thorough, and guided by accurate medical evidence. This bill aligns with successful legislation in other states and strengthens our process by protecting both children and families, ensuring that wrongful accusations are avoided while legitimate cases are addressed. Thank you to the mothers who bravely shared their experiences throughout the committee process,” Bartleman said in a statement released by her office last week.

The Senate version of the bill was sponsored by Sen. Barbara Sharief, a Democrat from Davie and a advanced registered nurse practitioner.

“As a healthcare professional, I understand the importance of accurate diagnoses and informed decision-making,” Sharief said through a statement released by her office. “This legislation strengthens communication between medical experts and child welfare professionals so that investigations are based on the most complete and reliable information available.”

The text says the Department of Children and Families may delay forwarding allegations to police if a parent alleges their child has a medical diagnosis that resembles injuries sustained from child abuse, or if the parent requests a medical examination.

Parents then must forward diagnoses to the state and pay the price of the medical evaluation.

“After two years of heart-breaking and dramatic testimony, Governor DeSantis’s signature of this strong, balanced bill is a big win for Florida’s families. Now, with a second medical opinion issued to the Department of Children and Families for children in protective services, this law will add another imperative layer of protection for parental rights,” Maney said.

Twins

Michael and Tasha Patterson from Broward County made the trip to the Capitol during the legislative session to share their story.

They are parents of three-year-old twins, born prematurely and delivered by emergency C-section, who were home for about seven weeks after birth before being separated from their parents.

After being released from the neonatal intensive care unit, they returned to a doctor’s office eight to 10 times in the first weeks of their lives, Tasha said. In the last visit to the emergency room, providers found injuries on one twin, resulting in child abuse allegations. And later, the remaining twin was found to have fractures “everywhere.”

Tasha said Michael’s son, a third child in the family but not biologically hers, has no injuries.

The twins continued suffering injuries after Tasha and Michael lost full custody, she said.

Michael and Tasha have supervised visitation with the children, visiting them for a few hours per week, but she said the state is trying to have the twins adopted.

Their twins were diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, “caused by genetic changes that affect connective tissue,” according to the Ehlers-Danlos Society, and metabolic bone disease, Tasha said, and preventative care now has her twins “flourishing.”

“It puts you in a position where it makes you feel insecure for something you didn’t do,” Tasha said. “But I also know that I’m a Christian and I believe God has a purpose for everything and I do believe we will get our children back and in the process of it we’ll be able to make changes for other families as well,” Tasha said.