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 after they selected midwifery care to deal with their child’s jaundice as a substitute of going to a hospital. They declare the Texas Division of Household and Protecting Providers (DFPS) violated their rights and prompted long-term harm to their household.
In March 2023, the Jacksons welcomed their daughter Mila at house with licensed midwife Cheryl Edinbyrd. Just a few days later, their longtime pediatrician, Dr. Anand Bhatt, recognized Mila with jaundice and urged them to hunt hospital remedy. As an alternative, the Jacksons adopted their midwife’s remedy plan, which included phototherapy, dietary help, and monitoring.
Based on Atlanta Black Star, Dr. Bhatt reported them to baby protecting providers when he was unable to contact the household. Police arrived at their house and took seven-day-old Mila, putting her with a foster household. The Jacksons spent 24 days preventing to deliver her again. DFPS additionally opened a neglect investigation into their two older youngsters due to a faculty documentation error.
Even after Mila was returned, DFPS marked the case as “cause to consider” the couple uncared for her. In 2024, that was downgraded to “unable to find out.” However this label nonetheless impacts their each day lives as a result of faculties, medical professionals, and different establishments can request to see their DFPS data.
In 2025, after receiving their case recordsdata, the Jacksons found a state specialist had discovered no proof of neglect. The report confirmed that Mila acquired applicable care and didn’t undergo any well being problems. Regardless of this, DFPS saved the “unable to find out” standing resulting from perceived threat.
Their lawsuit, filed in Travis County, claims DFPS unfairly labels dad and mom 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 searching for cash — solely to clear their names and forestall different households from dealing with comparable trauma. DFPS has till Could 12 to answer the lawsuit.
