Testifying as an expert in emotionally-laden child abuse cases is no easy task. Dr. Reece, a retired Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, has taught medical students, residents, and colleagues nationally and internationally about the diagnosis and management of child abuse cases for over forty years. He crafted this book, To Tell the Truth to illustrate countervailing arguments that jurors may hear in cases of abusive head trauma. He hopes this will enable the reader to distinguish between fact and fiction in testimony.
"A compelling story addressing an issue familiar to physicians who care for children, but important to all of us. A baby dies, and the question of a sad, natural death weighed against a homicide and who caused the death becomes a quagmire of truth and lies inherent in the justice system assigned to determine guilt or innocence. Characters reflect personal attitudes and emotions, creating glimpses into their humanity as the baby's case winds its way through an all-too-real courtroom drama. The narrative of witnesses in the courtroom and tactics of attorneys brings the reader face-to-face with a startling reality: sometimes criminal cases are influenced by more than the 'truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Robert W. Block, MD, FAAP, Professor Emeritus, Pediatrics
The University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine,
Past president, American Academy of Pediatrics
Robert M. Reece practiced, taught, and did research in pediatrics for over forty years, specializing in diagnosis and treatment of child abuse cases. He published nine textbooks, nearly fifty articles, and twenty-seven book chapters. He founded and was Editor of The Quarterly Update from 1993 until 2017. His debut novel, To Tell The Truth, describes a fictional case of a young babysitter charged with the murder of a seven-month-old infant in her care.In Double Blind Double Cross, he writes about surgeon Tom Barrett, a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder, (PTSD) and his experiences while participating in a clinical trial of a new drug for PTSD. Tom and two fellow patients immerse themselves in a high stakes investigation that reveals a shocking answer that would question practices in parts of the pharmaceutical industry. The Lewellyns from Vincennes is the story of a twentieth century family whose lives are buffeted by personal losses, two world wars, the Great Depression, and family triumphs. Based on a true story, its tapestry is woven with invention of scenes and fictional dialogue and is ultimately a tale of redemption and resilience. In 2024, he published his latest novel, About Ben, the based-on-true story of a medical student stricken with polio who becomes the pediatrician's pediatrician.Learn more at www.robertmreece.com
