Radiologist saw signs of in-house abuse in NICU, but hospital failed to act on his warning

A radiologist sounded the alarm on potential foul play after interpreting a series of exams on neonates with fractures, but hospital leadership disregarded his opinion. Now, a special report is raising new concerns about the hospital’s lackluster response to his claims. 

A special grand jury report details the response of leaders at Henrico Doctors' Hospital in Henrico County, Virginia, after multiple fractures occurred in the hospital’s NICU in 2023. Reports of the first fracture emerged in September of 2023 when a grandparent, who happened to be a former NICU nurse, called Child Protective Services to report that one of her son's twins somehow acquired a broken leg while being treated in the unit. CPS launched an investigation, which uncovered three additional fractures in neonates treated in the unit prior to the grandmother’s report. 

Although the hospital was aware that the incidents had occurred, leaders did not notify CPS. Instead, they insisted that the fractures were likely spontaneous or due to some sort of bone disease before eventually asking radiologists to review the infants’ imaging; Gerry Reece, MD, a respected radiologist in the area, was one of the doctors who offered his input on the exams. Reece told the hospital’s chief medical officer that the images were “inconsistent with normal handling and metabolic bone disease” and resembled findings more akin to “non-accidental, inflicted injury.” He even went as far as speculating to hospital administrators that "abuse was taking place." 

Reece offered information on when the fractures might have occurred, providing hospital leaders an opportunity to investigate the source. This information helped lead to the eventual investigation on Erin Strotman, a nurse in the NICU unit. After installing cameras in the unit and reviewing suspicious surveillance footage, Strotman was temporarily placed on leave while her role in the fractures was explored. However, the nurse was brought back to work in 2024 despite being a suspect in the ongoing case. Shortly after, more fractures occurred, and the nurse was again placed on leave. This information was reportedly not disclosed to the police. 

Strotman was eventually arrested and convicted on multiple accounts of abuse after a total of nine babies sustained fractures, landing her behind bars for a minimum of three years. But that does not necessarily mean that the entire case is closed—there is still the matter of how the hospital handled the accusations of abuse brought on by Reece based on his interpretation of the infants’ imaging. 

Parents of the injured infants have accused hospital leaders of negligence due to their slow response to Reece’s claims, suggesting that they were trying to protect themselves over their patients. Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor described the hospital’s response to that information as “not good.” Taylor also previously stated that she would consider exploring holding additional individuals accountable if evidence supported it. 

The hospital agreed to financial settlements with the affected infants’ families and has since implemented new protocols intended to improve the safety of its patients; it also has enacted new reporting protocols pertaining to safety events. The hospital has refuted any claims made regarding its commitment to its patients. 

CBS 6 Richmond has been investigating the case extensively and published a thorough analysis of their findings this week. That can be viewed here and at the link below: