"Infant Jane" SCHOBER - 23 Months - Beloit (N of Rockford IL) WI

The mother of a Beloit toddler girl who was
allegedly abused by a 10-year-old babysitter told WKOW27 News she's
upset a pediatrician misdiagnosed her child's injuries and failed to
order additional medical testing.
"What the heck, he sent me home," Stephanie Schober, 22, exclaimed.
"He should have done more. He could have and he sent me home."
Authorities alleged Schober's 23-month
old daughter's severe injuries, including a fractured skull, many
bruises and retinal hemorrhages, were caused June 30 by a 10-year-old
babysitter. The babysitter has been charged in Rock County juvenile
court with child abuse. The toddler victim remains hospitalized.
Both Schober and Assistant Rock County District
Attorney Dan Niedfeldt said Schober took the child to the Beloit Clinic July 1.
Schober said the child's pediatrician examined
her. Schober said she believed the girl had fallen from her crib and
was concerned when the toddler appeared ill.
"He believed she was pretty much just sore from the fall," Schober said.
"He wasn't going to require a CAT scan, just all
the radiation and the problems that come along with that."
Authorities and Schober said she took the girl to
Beloit Memorial Hospital July 2 when the infant's symptoms also included some vomiting.
Court records show a CT scan and other tests were
performed, revealing bleeding on the child's brain and the severity of her injuries.
Beloit Clinic spokesperson Sarah Starmer said
medical confidentiality rules barred her from commenting on the child's care.
Starmer said when there is question about a
patient's care, an internal medical staff peer review committee looks
into the situation.
The pediatrician's online biography indicates he's
practiced for more than thirty years. State records show the
pediatrician was first licensed to practice in 1979.
Dean Clinic pediatrician Dr. Conrad Andringa explained that referral of a child patient for a CT scan involves
hospitalization, sedation, and radiation exposure and is typically
carefully considered to determine if such testing is likely to yield
additional, important patient information.
Andringa said pediatricians should screen for
potential child abuse by looking for clues such as unusual injuries,
suspicious patterns or deviations in the patient's history and doctor-hopping.
Andringa said pediatricians must make difficult
decisions on whether to classify patient conditions as suspected child abuse.
"It is a fine line, but err on the side of protecting the child."
Last week, Beloit police officials said Schober
was arrested on the tentative charge of child neglect. No court
charges have been filed against Schober.
Schober declined to answer reporter's questions on anything other than her daughter's
medical care.
Authorities said the child's 10-year-old
babysitter allegedly because upset and frustrated with the toddler and
threw her into a bathtub, slammed her head into a concrete floor several
times, and hit her with toys, a plastic bat and a belt. The ten year
old girl's attorney said she takes medication for unspecified mental health problems.