Nationwide — Rodney and Temecia Jackson, an African American couple from Dallas, Texas, are suing the state after their new child daughter was taken from them in 2023 once they selected midwifery care to deal with their child’s jaundice as an alternative of going to a hospital. They declare the Texas Division of Household and Protecting Companies (DFPS) violated their rights and prompted long-term harm to their household.
In March 2023, the Jacksons welcomed their daughter Mila at residence with licensed midwife Cheryl Edinbyrd. A number of days later, their longtime pediatrician, Dr. Anand Bhatt, recognized Mila with jaundice and urged them to hunt hospital remedy. As a substitute, the Jacksons adopted their midwife’s remedy plan, which included phototherapy, dietary help, and monitoring.
In response to Atlanta Black Star, Dr. Bhatt reported them to baby protecting providers when he was unable to contact the household. Police arrived at their residence and took seven-day-old Mila, inserting her with a foster household. The Jacksons spent 24 days preventing to convey her again. DFPS additionally opened a neglect investigation into their two older youngsters due to a college documentation error.
Even after Mila was returned, DFPS marked the case as “purpose to imagine” the couple uncared for her. In 2024, that was downgraded to “unable to find out.” However this label nonetheless impacts their every day lives as a result of colleges, medical professionals, and different establishments can request to see their DFPS information.
In 2025, after receiving their case information, the Jacksons found a state specialist had discovered no proof of neglect. The report confirmed that Mila acquired acceptable care and didn’t undergo any well being issues. Regardless of this, DFPS stored the “unable to find out” standing resulting from perceived danger.
Their lawsuit, filed in Travis County, claims DFPS unfairly labels mother and father with out due course of or proof. The Jacksons are asking the courtroom to declare these practices unconstitutional and to replace their report to “dominated out.”
They don’t seem to be looking for cash — solely to clear their names and stop different households from going through related trauma. DFPS has till Could 12 to reply to the lawsuit.
