Child endangerment charges against a nurse accused of mishandling a newborn infant at a hospital in Long Island, New York, were dropped on Monday, according to her lawyer.
Defense attorney Robert Gottlieb informed reporters that the charges against nurse Amanda Burke, which were filed in connection with an incident recorded by the infant’s parents at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, N.Y., have been withdrawn by Suffolk County, N.Y., prosecutors.
“This prosecution has been nothing short of disgraceful,” he expressed, emphasizing that the state Office of Professional Discipline thoroughly reviewed the footage captured by the parents of the newborn in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Astonishingly, they concluded that there was absolutely “no basis” to pursue any action against Burke. It is worth mentioning that Burke was unjustly terminated shortly after the incident occurred in February 2023.”
According to Burke’s legal team, they argued that the boy did not sustain any injuries and remained in good health throughout the incident.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office stated that, regrettably, the New York State Department of Licensing did not find the defendant’s actions to be gross negligence, despite the distressing video evidence of the incident. Consequently, they were unable to establish the charge beyond a reasonable doubt during the trial. This information was conveyed in a statement issued to various media outlets.
According to Burke, her life has been greatly affected by the charges brought against her by the prosecutors.
“I am relieved that it’s finally over. Going through that experience was a complete nightmare,” she expressed during a press conference. She continued, “I faced constant harassment, with people showing up at my doorstep and sending threatening emails. As a mother to an 8-year-old, I felt an overwhelming sense of fear for her safety. It was truly a terrifying ordeal.”
