GeorgiaAfter a grueling 19-month custody fight that began with allegations of child abuse from Florida’s Dr. Barbara Knox, a contentious doctor who has since resigned from the University of Florida, Diana Sullivan is finally home with her kids.
After their infant daughter’s swelling leg resulted in what she claims was a misdiagnosed case of abuse at a Jacksonville emergency care, Sullivan and her husband had to battle for over two years to reclaim custody of their three small children.
“I am so happy to be home,” Sullivan remarked. Without my faith, I could not have survived this. My rock has really been God.
Doctor Played Large Role in Family s Separation
Sullivan was accused of taking her infant daughter to the emergency room in 2022. The child’s fractures were determined to be evidence of abuse by medical professionals, including Dr. Knox, who was the leader of the First Coast Child Protection Team at the time. The children were taken away right away and their visitation was closely monitored as a result of that discovery.
A significant part Sullivan informed First Coast News that she was the main force behind the claims, making them sound far more serious than they actually were.
Sullivan insists that rather than abuse, her daughter’s injuries were caused by an unidentified medical ailment at the time.
“I will state unequivocally that my child was not abused,” she stated.
Pediatrician Resigns Amid Broader Scrutiny
After a contentious stint that included numerous accusations, Knox resigned from the University of Florida on August 15. Due to a hostile work climate and concerns regarding her handling of abuse cases, nine members of her Child Protection Team publicly petitioned for her removal just seven months ago.
When Sullivan found out that Knox had formally signed the separation agreement, she stated her feelings were conflicted.
First, there were tears of joy, and then there were questions about what would have happened if she had quit sooner. Why had we had to meet her?
In addition, families from Wisconsin, Alaska, and now Florida have come forward to contest Knox’s findings, claiming false allegations and trauma that changed their lives.
Lasting Trauma and a Call for Accountability
Sullivan and her family were deeply scarred by the experience, which at first threatened to permanently revoke their parental rights. Later, a judge decided in their favor, stating that it was best for the kids to go back home.
I will never be able to regain the milestones she stole. According to Sullivan, she removed a nursing mother from her newborn children.
She thinks a thorough inquiry should immediately be started by the Florida medical board to make sure Knox is held accountable for his treatment of families.
These youngsters are experiencing the most severe trauma of their lives and are being taken from devoted homes and innocent families.
It must end somewhere to consider families that just have to quit up because they lack the financial resources to defend their children. Someone needs to get over their fear.
Mom Now Advocates for Other Families
Now that she is aware of how quickly families may be split apart by poor medical decisions, Sullivan says she will not stop speaking out. Her narrative contributes to the increased national awareness of pediatricians’ unbridled influence in family court cases involving child abuse.
She remarked, “There’s no way I’ll be able to know that this world exists now and that other families might be experiencing this.” I would be doing everything in my power to urge for change.
Dr. Barbara Knox has not replied to First Coast News’s repeated requests for comment.
How do you think cross-state child protection investigations are conducted? Should Dr. Knox and other medical professionals be held to higher standards? Send us a comment atSaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
