The revision of the public health agency of Canada's (PHAC) joint statement on shaken baby syndrome

Objectives/Learning Objectives: • To inform stakeholders and the international community of the current revision process to update the PHAC's Joint Statement on Shaken Baby Syndrome. • To provide an update on the status of... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives/Learning Objectives:
• To inform stakeholders and the international community of the current revision process to update the PHAC's Joint Statement on Shaken Baby Syndrome.
• To provide an update on the status of the revision of the Joint Statement on Shaken Baby Syndrome and gather feedback/input from vested stakeholders.

Method/Results/Conclusions:
N/A

Background:
At the First Annual Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome (1999), key stakeholders and research experts identified a need for national leadership on Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) to provide an authoritative source of information for health and legal professionals. In response, the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute and the Canadian Paediatric Society, developed a National Strategy on SBS. The strategy resulted in a Joint Statement on Shaken Baby Syndrome (2001) and the Multidisciplinary Guidelines on the Identification, Investigation and Management of Suspected Abusive Head Trauma (2007). The Joint Statement was created to: (1) create a common understanding based on current evidence, of its definition, cause, outcomes and consequences for the family and community; (2) stimulate the development of effective ongoing local and national prevention strategies; and (3) encourage the provision of support for affected children and families.

Since 2001 a significant amount of medical literature has been made available on SBS/Abusive Head Trauma, yet controversy now exists around clinical characteristics as well as the intersection of medical opinion and the criminal justice system. The Public Health Agency of Canada has conducted an environmental scan and literature review (2012), facilitated an expert roundtable (2013) and facilitated an expert advisory group meeting (2014) to inform the revision process. The revision of the Joint Statement began in the fall of 2015 in consultation with key experts and national stakeholders from the health, legal, child welfare, law enforcement and policy sectors.