A Texas couple is still listed on a state child neglect registry, even though the allegations against them were dismissed and their child returned to them. The couple is now suing the state, arguing that being listed on the registry violates their rights to due process.
Rodney and Temecia Jackson are a married couple with three children living near Dallas, Texas. Following two caesarian births, Temecia and Rondey chose to hire a licensed midwife and have a home birth for their third child. The Jacksons' daughter—identified in the suit as "M.J."—was born healthy on March 21, 2023. According to their lawsuit, the Jacksons took M.J. to a nearby pediatrician's office for a routine visit three days after she was born. While there, a nurse noted that M.J. had signs of jaundice, a common condition in newborns. The couple scheduled a follow-up appointment and left without issue.
Later that day, Dr. Anand Bhatt called the Jacksons and told them that M.J. needed to go to a local neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to be treated for signs of jaundice. However, instead of going to the hospital, the Jacksons consulted with their midwife, who told them they could treat M.J.'s jaundice at home with "enhanced nutrition, phototherapy, and monitoring."
