worst week of my life

[ehast13]

Just had the worst week ever.

Last thursday my wife took our ten week old son to the doctor. He had a chesty cough and we thought we should get it checked out (he was premmy and is still only 8 pound). The doc advised we take him to the hospital.

The hospital did some xrays and advised us that he had broken ribs and arms. The police arrived soon after. We were both questioned at the station and by early hours of friday morning both our kids (newbron and two year old daughter) were removed by Child Safety and put in foster care.

The police and DCS were very forceful. They wanted to know what happened. Both my wife and I had no idea. I knew it wasn't me but.....surely my wife wouldn't do this...would she?

I was questioned again.. This time advised that I or my wife would most likely be charged with grevious bodily harm.

By this stage I couldn't even look at my wife. I knew it had to be her. She had post natal a while back so it was possible she just snapped.

The cops wanted me to tell them what I suspected. I remained silent becasuse it just didn't seem right.

By Tuesday afternoon, we had had to sign so many forms allowing xrays, MRI's and CT scans. This time they wanted to perform a nuclear Bone Injection.

I put my foot down and said NO. While They told me what a bad father I was for not allowing this, my wife just cried. I couldn't understand how this procedure could help him. He had already been released from hospital on friday night into foster care!

We continued to refuse until we got a phone call from the Director or DCS. SHe wanted to speak to us. It was about 5.30 pm on Tuesday arvo.

She said "It would appear that the hospital has made an error with the original xrays. YOur son is fine other than some mucosal thickening (bronchiolotis) in his respiratory tract. YOu can pick them up as soon as you want"

I swore.

I swore again but remained calm.

We picked up the kids and The director of the hospital called us to tell us that they knew on FRIDAY that he was fine but thought they had better get their 'expert' to have a look. He was on leave and they had to wait until Tuesday ARVO!"

We have an appt to see the director on Wednesday.

I never thought this sort of could happen to us. We are a middle aged, middle income family with no crimimal history. A bit of post natal was all that could be found...

What I want to know is - Did some other poor little baby have to go home with abusive carers because they mixed up his xrays? Was he diagnosed with a chest infection and sent home with broken bones?

Who had my kids? How where they treated?

Will I be reimbursed for the unpaid leave I had to take becasue police wouldn't release me early enough to get to work?

My kids are young enough to forget this. My wife and I will never forget. We both thought each other was guilty. I really despised her for a few days and she probably despised me.

SHould we sue? Should we just let it go and move on?