Is it a crime to drop a baby?
Being a parent is one of the more fulfilling things you are likely ever to do in your life. Still, as the saying goes, kids do not come with an instruction manual. As a result, it is perfectly normal to feel unprepared to handle a new baby.
Babies are both small and wiggly, making them somewhat difficult to hold. If you drop an infant, it probably makes sense to take the child to a hospital for a medical evaluation. Doctors or nurses there might report you to the authorities for suspected child abuse, though.
Child abuse
In California, it is a crime to willfully inflict an injury on a child, if the injury results in a traumatic condition. If your child suffers an injury when you drop him or her, doctors might wonder whether you willfully harmed the infant. If you did not intend to drop your son or daughter or cause him or her harm, however, you probably are not guilty of child abuse. That is, accidentally dropping a child is not a crime.
Mandated reporters
Parents should be free to seek medical treatment for their children without worrying about scrutiny from law enforcement. Too many kids are victims of child abuse, though. As a result, California makes certain individuals mandated reporters.
According to state law, mandated reporters include physicians, nurses and other medical professionals. Still, to have an obligation to report, these individuals must reasonably suspect child abuse
Ultimately, if a mandated reporter has contacted authorities about your suspected child abuse, it is critical to exercise your legal rights immediately.