SHAKEN-BABY SYNDROME Child returns to hospital as his condition worsens

The comatose baby's father wants a court ruling overturned.
AKRON (AP) -- A comatose baby whose father is suspected of child abuse and wants him kept on life support has developed pneumonia and has been readmitted to the hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said Friday.
The parents of 9-month-old Aiden Stein of Mansfield believe his condition has improved since his admission Sunday night, said their attorney, Ed Markovich.
"Our feeling is his vitals are all good and he's getting better," Markovich said.
The parents, Matthew Stein and Arica Heimlich, both 21, want their son kept on life support. They have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that allows a court-appointed guardian to remove him from a ventilator.
Aiden was assigned a guardian because police suspect his father of injuring him March 15. Stein has denied harming Aiden, who has been diagnosed with shaken-baby syndrome.
Akron Children's Hospital said Stein had a conflict of interest in keeping the baby on life support, since Aiden's death could lead to a possible murder charge. No charges have been filed.
Condition
Hospital spokeswoman Andrea Reynolds said Aiden was in critical condition with pneumonia. He was returned to the hospital from a suburban Cleveland nursing home that has a 60-bed unit for children who are chronically ill.
Clair Dickinson, an attorney representing guardian Ellen Kaforey, said Aiden's condition may have improved a bit by midday Friday but "the ultimate outlook is not good."
Randy Parker, executive director of Richland County Children Services in Mansfield, said the child also had erratic blood pressure.
"What it looks like, with what doctors are telling us, is that he'll pass before the Ohio Supreme Court gets a chance to rule on it," he said.
Children Services took custody of Aiden after he was taken to the hospital with serious head injuries.
Parker said Aiden was placed on a more high-powered ventilator that must be operated in a hospital because no nursing home in Ohio is equipped to handle it.
Order
Markovich said Aiden's guardian had acted against the parents' wishes in issuing an order against resuscitating Aiden. "I think they are kind of hoping he will slip away," Markovich said.
Dickinson said the "do not resuscitate" directive was limited to not attempting to restart Aiden's heart should it stop beating, based on the understanding that cardiac arrest would be secondary to Aiden's other medical problems.
Dickinson said the appeal before the Ohio Supreme Court would become moot if Aiden died before the court ruled. Markovich said the court still might rule on the merits of the case even after Aiden's death.
Court spokesman Dennis Whelan said the court would not comment on the case.
Kaforey told the Mansfield News Journal that both of Aiden's lungs had collapsed and there was nothing more doctors could do.
"The family has been notified he will probably not be able to return to Berea, but it will just be a matter of time now," she said.
Stein could not be reached for comment Friday. Calls to his cell phone either went unanswered or were answered by a message to call back later.