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SUMMARY:Shaken Baby Syndrome on Trial: Causal Problems and Sources of Bias
  - Maria Cuellar (Carnegie Mellon University)
DTSTART:20160928T143000Z
DTEND:20160928T151500Z
UID:TALK67669@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:INI IT
DESCRIPTION:Over 1\,100 individuals are in prison today on charges related
  to the diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). In recent years this diag
 nosis has come under scrutiny\, and more than 20 convictions made on the b
 asis of SBS have been overturned. The overturned convictions have fueled a
  controversy about alleged cases of SBS. In this talk\, I will review the 
 arguments made by the prosecution and defense in cases related to SBS and 
 point out two problems: much of the evidence used has contextual bias\, an
 d the expert witnesses and attorneys ask the wrong causal questions. To re
 solve the problem of asking the wrong causal questions\, I suggest that a 
 Causes of Effects framework be used in formulating the causal questions an
 d answers given by attorneys and expert witnesses. To resolve the problem 
 of bias\, I suggest that only the task-relevant information be provided to
  the individual who determines the diagnosis. I also suggest that in order
  for this to be possible\, there must be a change in the definition of SBS
  so it does not include the manner in which the injuries were caused. I cl
 ose with recommendations to researchers in statistics and the law about ho
 w to use scientific results in court.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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