How Could You? Hall of Shame-John Cox

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Milwaukee, Wisconsin, foster parent and former ER physician, John Cox “brought his 1-month-old foster child to a doctor on May 9, 2019, because the child “was exhibiting decreased use of the left arm” and “was concerned that he fractured (the child’s) left clavicle while co-sleeping.” The complaint says Cox detailed what he believed happened to the child. He indicated he put the child in bed with him and fell asleep. The complaint says Cox awoke to the baby’s cries and “noticed that part of his body was on top of (the child) and applying pressure to (the child’s) left shoulder.” Cox told doctors he quickly rose, soothed the child and noticed the child was not using the left arm.

Upon examination, the complaint says a doctor “noticed bruising on each of (the child’s) arms that appeared consistent with the skin being ‘pinched.’ There was also a bruise on the lower right back.” The doctor raised “a concern for abuse.”

Later on May 9, 2019, a board-certified child abuse pediatrician conducted an interview with Cox, the complaint says. This doctor “did not perform a full child abuse consultation out of concerns about perceptions of bias.” Instead, the matter was referred to a nurse practitioner with specialized training and experience in the evaluation and diagnosis of suspected child abuse.

On May 10, 2019, the nurse practitioner conducted a physical abuse evaluation on the child, the complaint says. She noticed the infant had “numerous bruises and multiple different planes of the body that are not consistent with the medical history provided by the defendant.”

Later in May 2019, the complaint says “follow-up imaging studies were conducted” on the infant. Those studies revealed the child did “sustain a fractured left clavicle. The presence of healing (new bone formation) on the second imaging study is consistent with the fracture being inflicted on or around May 9, 2019.”

According to the criminal complaint, a doctor was hired by the Department of Milwaukee Child Protective Services to “conduct a full review of the infant’s medical records in order to determine whether the cause of (the child’s) injuries were consistent with the explanations offered by the defendant.” This doctor indicated in the complaint that the bruises the child had “would not be expected in the normal care and handling of an infant.” She also indicated “there is no evidence of underlying bone disease.” In summary, the doctor indicated the following:

“The clavicle fracture is not well explained by an overlay scenario in bed with an adult.

“However, forceful squeezing/compression of the torso laterally can cause both fractures of the clavicle, as well as patterned cutaneous trauma. This constellation of injuries including cutaneous trauma and a clavicle fracture is clinically diagnostic of child physical abuse or inflicted injury.”

Statement from Children’s Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin

“The charges filed against Dr. John M. Cox do not involve care he provided to any Children’s Wisconsin patient. He has not seen patients since the allegations were first made and is no longer employed by MCW.

“Given that Dr. Cox is involved in an ongoing legal matter, we cannot comment on his case.

“Prevention of child abuse and neglect is core to Children’s mission of caring for kids. We take seriously our responsibility to protect children and take action on their behalf. As a health care organization dedicated to quality, Children’s will review the practices of the Child Advocacy and Protection Service to ensure it remains one of the leading programs in the country.

“Child abuse is a serious, life-threatening issue both in Wisconsin and throughout the country. In 2018 alone, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families reported nearly 5,000 cases of abuse and or neglect, as well as associated deaths in young children and infants under the age of one. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families website indicates that in 2018, fifty percent (50%) of deaths were in children under age 1.

“The Child Advocacy and Protection Service at Children’s Wisconsin is part of a broader system designed to protect children by detecting, preventing and treating abuse and neglect. The hospital-based Child Advocacy team is a multidisciplinary group of medical professionals and social workers who provide consultation on suspected child maltreatment cases. The Wisconsin Child Protection Services agency determines whether investigations are warranted.””

“John Cox of Wauwatosa pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, Feb. 18 [2020] to a charge of felony physical abuse of a child. Cox is identified in the criminal complaint as a former emergency room physician with Children’s Wisconsin.

In court on Tuesday, Cox’s defense team filed a motion to dismiss the case. But it was denied — and the court found probable cause to hold Cox over for trial.

If convicted, Cox faces up to six years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Cox is due back in court on March 4.”

Wauwatosa man, former ER physician, pleads not guilty to charge of physical abuse of a child

[Fox 6 02/18/2020]

A search of the Wisconsin court case files reveals that there is a motion hearing on 03/31/2020.

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