Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen and Lehigh Valley Health Network, among others, are the focus of a lawsuit filed Jan. 25 in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Attorney Tom Bosworth with Tom Bosworth Law, of Philadelphia, stated.

The lawsuit alleges multiple counts of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress and fraudulent concealment and alleges authorities wrongfully charged Amanda Suranofsky, a Bath mother of five, with child abuse and removed her children, based on an intentional medical misdiagnosis.

The lawsuit claims on Dec. 14, 2019, Suranofsky awoke to a thud and found her newborn son lying on the floor crying, and her then 2-year-old child remained in the bassinet.

According to Bosworth in the lawsuit, Suranofsky called 911 and the child was immediately transported to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, Salisbury Township, where there was concern the child had suffered a traumatic head injury.

Bosworth states in the lawsuit, later that day, certain doctors and nurses documented that Suranofsky had done nothing to harm the child, but a day later, another physician accused her of abusing her child and causing the injury.

When Suranofsky explained that the injury occurred after the child fell out of a bassinet while playing with her 2-year-old, the doctor allegedly was adamant that the injuries could not have been caused by anything other than physical abuse, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit further states Dr. Jenssen allegedly concluded without proof that the baby suffered head trauma from shaken baby syndrome.

According to Bosworth, Suranofsky’s nightmare only worsened.

“In December 2019, Dr. Jenssen inexcusably and reprehensibly determined that all of plaintiff’s children were being physically abused or at risk of physical abuse by plaintiff despite no evidence to indicate this and without Dr. Jenssen ever having spoken to the plaintiff,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit states, over the ensuing days, not only were Suranofsky’s children taken from her but were kept from her for nearly four years and she was wrongfully charged with felony aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, among other counts.

She pleaded to misdemeanor reckless endangerment to end the prosecution but steadfastly maintained her innocence, the lawsuit states.

According to the lawsuit, Suranofsky in recent months has gotten four of her kids back, but continues to fight for custody of her youngest child.

- Lehigh Valley Press