Sarah Goble’s son was only two-months-old when he vomited in a way his mother had never seen before. A sharp, projectile spray that ended in a spreading stain of blood. By nightfall, Goble had taken him to a children’s hospital, looking for answers.
Instead, she found herself accused of abusing her children, at the beginning of a long journey involving medical malpractice, misdiagnoses, and a battle for the custody of her children.
Goble’s son was gulping down breaths of air as his tiny belly filled with pressure. From the moment she walked into the hospital, she felt the atmosphere shift, as a scan showed that her son was suffering 14 separate fractures. She didn’t know that a narrative was already writing itself.
“They told us there were fractures in multiple stages of healing,” Goble said. “They hotlined child abuse. We believed them.”
As Goble’s world quickly turned around, she searched for answers to explain what had happened to her son.
“We had just hired a nanny at the time. We thought she did something. We thought she abused our son,” Goble said.
Goble and her husband knew they hadn’t hurt their baby. But nobody treated them like parents. No one explained their rights. Labeled as criminals, they weren’t even allowed to be alone with their son.
“They held us for a week,” Goble said. “A week of being told we were dangerous.”
When they stepped into the courtroom, the accusations hardened into a narrative that no one questioned. Child Protective Services (CPS) handed her a paper full of inaccurate claims that she had never seen before.
“The judge didn’t ask a single question,” Goble said. “Thirty minutes. That’s all it took to take our children.”
Months later, independent specialists reinvestigated every assumption the children’s hospital had made. A pediatric radiologist confirmed that there were only two fractures, not 14. A pediatric neurologist later diagnosed craniosynostosis, a skeletal growth disorder that can place pressure or break a baby’s fragile bones.
Goble herself was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, an inherited genetic tissue disorder known to cause fragile bones.
None of it had been tested before the accusations were made. None of it had been considered.
The hospital’s misjudgment wasn’t just a human error. According to the National Library of Medicine, emergency room doctors report a 60% burnout rate. Every day, they grapple with crowded hospitals, fatigue from their personal lives, and an overwhelming number of patients.
The Gobles’ case perfectly illustrates the systematic stresses that doctors face. Often overworked, there is little time for them to conduct drawn-out investigations in high-stress cases, like one of potential child abuse.
“If they haven’t slept or if they’re managing multiple patients, they don’t always have time to think through a complex diagnosis fully,” said Alexandra Claussen, a registered nurse.
Even with electronic health records that allow providers to review years of medical history, institutional issues persist. Hospitals that operate under profit margins or staffing constraints leave doctors and nurses without the mental space to reflect on complex cases, such as the Gobles’. Employment regulations, such as limits on working hours and staffing support, can help mitigate errors, but the stakes remain high, and the repercussions are severe.
For Goble, the personal consequences were profound. The separation from her children left her hopeless and overwhelmed.
“When it first happened, I wanted to die,” Goble said. “I didn’t know where my kids were. I didn’t know what CPS was going to do. I didn’t know how to protect them.”
What began as a feeling of helplessness evolved into an indestructible effort to ensure her children’s well-being. She relied on her education, resources, and sheer determination.
Medical experts say patients and families can take steps to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis. Advocates recommend asking for clear explanations of test results, requesting second opinions, and documenting interactions with medical staff.
“It’s important for patients to feel empowered to ask questions,” Claussen said. “If something doesn’t make sense, you’re allowed to ask for clarification or another review.”
Keeping copies of medical records and seeking independent specialists are steps families can take to navigate complex medical and legal systems. While these steps may not prevent every error, they can slow down rushed conclusions.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, families experiencing socioeconomic disadvantages are disproportionately affected. Families with lower education or fewer resources may not be able to advocate effectively for themselves, making them more susceptible to biases in the justice system and the potential false diagnoses on the part of overworked doctors.
For these families with limited resources, the line between medical care and legal peril can be dangerously thin. Fortunately for Goble’s family, months of uncertainty and fear came to an end with a single phone call from their lawyer, who told them the case was dropped.
When Goble’s children were returned, relief washed over her. But the scars of the experience remained.
Goble’s story highlights a critical truth. Medical misdiagnoses are often a product of a high-pressure, imperfect system, where human error, fatigue, stress, and systemic flaws collide. While reforms can reduce these risks, the emotional and legal consequences for families caught in the crossfire can be devastating.
“This all made me stop and truly appreciate every moment. I’ve been relishing in every moment and just being super appreciative of every little milestone,” Goble said.
