Court Finds Fault with Many in Baby’s Death

A North London woman, her boyfriend and another male friend have been convicted of causing or failing to prevent the death of the woman's 17-month old son after eight months of social services involvement with the family.  According to the Guardian:

"The trial heard that the boy, who was on the child protection register, suffered more than 50 injuries during an eight-month period in which he was seen 60 times by social and health workers, but according to lawyers still did not pass the threshold to be taken into care."

The case is especially controversial and tragic, because it comes after reforms to the social welfare system that followed upon a similar case in the same borough eight years ago.  The local head of the board responsible for child protection in the borough claims that the case proves "The very sad fact…that you cannot stop people who are determined to kill children."  But it's hard to believe this particular case was fated to be, considering that a paediatrician who examined the baby two days before his death failed to catch his broken back, and was tricked by the chocolate his mother smeared on his skin to cover his bruises.  Apparently the boy was "cranky" (I suppose so) thus the doctor didn't conduct a full examination.

What's to be done about these kinds of situations? 

I don't know the answer, except to say that perhaps the responsibility is on us all to be a better "village" to the children in our communities, staying closer to and being of more service to our neighbors before any family reaches the extremes of tragedy one way or another.

Image: guardian.co.uk