It’s cases like this that forced me to NOT take one of my kids for medical attention after he got injured in an accident with his mom playing with him. For a couple of hours I wasn’t sure if it would get better on its own, so I had contingency plans to get out of town...figuring that mom had a much better chance of keeping the kid. Thankfully it got better on its own (after a few hours), but then it happened a second time (probably weakened), and finally a third time - which was at school - and that was GREAT, because it meant we could finally get him treated. We did, and he never had the problem again (it was a dislocation, it needed to be immobilized), and no CPS files were ever opened.
It is a STATE LAW in Texas, and probably every other state, that ANY ADULT that has contact with a kid has to report everything that cannot be easily explained...we simply respond to that law.
I am sorry but ignoring a problem because you are afraid that you will lose your kids to cps is abuse and very self centered. My guess is that you would be screaming bloody murder if you had dislocated your shoulder at work and the place you worked at refused to send you to the Dr because they were afraid of a workmen’s comp claim and a visit by osha.
You weren’t *forced* to not take your child to receive proper medical attention, you *chose* not to.
Medical kidnappings are despicable; that being said, they are not an excuse to pray that a dislocation heals/resolves itself and avoid dealing with the problem. Instead of having the problem fixed the first time, you let your kid suffer through two more injuries before he received proper medical treatment.
Mine tripped at the park and cut his forehead open. Stitches were needed but thankfully there were witnesses. He was constantly falling head first. A few months later, he fell busting chin open but no witnesses. Again, stiches were needed and I was so scared the ER would think it was my fault. Of course, they questioned him about what happened. Come on. Toddlers fall. Combine growing feet and large heads and you're going to have topples.