How can we tell whether a child died from co-sleeping or if she was smothered intentionally by a parent who had tired of her crying? How can we tell if the story parents gave about a broken leg or a brain bleed is plausible? We lean on child abuse specialist pediatricians, especially in physical abuse cases, to help us solve these and other quandaries. These skilled physicians are invaluable members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). I consult with our local specialists on

Yesterday, I attended something called a Care Team Meeting. The weather was frigid and snowy, more suited to February in Minnesota than the lower Midwest, so most participants Zoomed in from under a pile of heated blankets in their living rooms. A child abuse specialist pediatrician chaired the meeting, attended by representatives from the district attorney’s office, various social service agencies, law enforcement, and medical professionals. The topic of this meeting was a f