The Syndrome

This film is very well done. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a term that is sometimes used to prosecute parents and caregivers of babies who develop brain injuries. The film calls in to question the lack of science behind this syndrome and how over-zealous prosecutors have used this syndrome to convict and imprison hundreds of people and take children away from families. There are numerous other illnesses, accidents, and medical conditions that can cause trauma to the brain and often a misdiagnosis can cause significant problems for people who's children are misdiagnosed. In fact, many doctors and scientists now believe that the syndrome is a myth and does not really exist. The 3 doctors who came up with the syndrome also were responsible for an earlier syndrome called Satanic Ritual Abuse that was used to spread hysteria and many people were accused and convicted of abusing children for satanic purposes in the 1980s. Overtime many experts came to regard Satanic Ritual Abuse as having no credence. This film does a good job showing how believing "experts" without questioning their beliefs or validating their "science" of their beliefs can lead to major problems. It also shows how egos, self interest, irrationality, and cognitive dissonance can cause people to hold on to beliefs that are not backed up by science.