Bill aims to prevent shaken-baby cases

05/18/2005

Pioneer Press
May 18, 2005

Information about the dangers of shaking an infant would reach more new parents and child-care providers under a bill the Senate unanimously approved Monday.

The bill would require hospitals to offer new parents a viewing of an educational video on the dangers of shaking babies. Pediatricians and other health care providers would reinforce the information with parents.

While the Senate passed the bill as a stand-alone measure, the House approved the measure in its large health and human services finance bill. A conference committee is working to reconcile the differences between the versions.

Majority Leader Sen. Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, said he pushed the bill in memory of Vance Johnson, a 9-month-old Apple Valley baby who died Feb. 11, 2003, while in the care of his day-care provider. A Dakota County jury acquitted the provider of second-degree murder charges after doctors offered differing views of whether the child was shaken to death or whether he died from complications from an old injury.