Prosecutor Says Doctors Failed To Report Child Abuse

Lawyers For Accused Claims Investigation Not Complete

The Wayne County prosecutor has charged two Children's Hospital doctors with failure to report a possible child abuse case stemming from a February incident.

Meanwhile, the lawyers representing the doctors are charging that the prosecutor failed to do a complete investigation before charging the two medical professionals.

The prosecutor said Rufus Young, 4, was brought into the hospital's emergency room with bruises on his body. He was sent back home, but prosecutors say doctors never notified the state's Family Independence Agency about the boy's bruises.

Young was brought back to the hospital in April with multiple wounds, Local 4 reported. He died the following day, April 6.

Detroit police say Young's foster father, Roderick Hall, beat the child after the child soiled his pants. Authorities said Young was hit 11 times by Hall.

Hall has been charged with first-degree murder and is scheduled for trial July 15.

Prosecutors said Thursday that Young would be alive if the two doctors would have notified the FIA.

"The law is on the books for a reason. If you have reasonable cause to suspect abuse, it is not discretionary. Doctors have to report and if they don't report in this county, they will be charged," Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Duggan said.

Jayashree Narayan Rao, 36, the attending physician, and Vince Truong, 33, a resident at the hospital, made notes of abuse in Young's medical chart when he first arrived at Children's Hospital, but failed to make a report to the FIA,

Rao's attorney, Gail Benson, said she offered to let the prosecutor interview Rao before charges were filed, but the offer was denied.

"It seems to me if you had that opportunity, you would at least want to give the doctor an opportunity to talk and explain," Benson said.

Benson said Rao believed Young had been previously abused and that was why he was placed in foster care. Because of this, the doctor believed the boy was no longer in danger, Benson said.

Truong's attorney, Stephen Rabaut, also tried to set up a meeting with the prosecutor and was denied, according to reports.

"An incomplete and unthorough investigation led to these charges," Rabaut said. "This is the first time I've heard of a prosecturo who wasn't willing to listen to an individual under investigation to hear their side of the story."

Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Leonard said her office attempted to speak with both doctors before filing charges. They were unable to set a date, so the prosecutor decided to file charges based on evidence already collected.

The Michigan Medical Society said it has no record of a doctor being charged with failing to report child abuse or neglect.