Doctors give advice on how to prevent shaken baby syndrome

Marc Carrier is in jail, charged with the murder of a 7-month-old baby.

The medical examiner says the baby's injuries were consistent with being shaken.

"I'ts heartbreaking because these are children that had a full life potential in front of them and in a moment they were gone," said Dr. Diane Lipscomb.

Dr. Lipscomb is a Medical Director for Mercy Hospital. She says the term shaken baby syndrome is now known as non-accidental trauma.

"In my career, I have probably seen about a 100 children that have had non-accidental head injury of which 50 percent have died and those that have survived have survived with extreme handicaps," said Dr. Lipscomb.

She says non-accidental trauma is defined as an injury that is not from a known accident like a car wreck. It's an injury no one has witnessed, but has resulted in severe life threatening injuries.

She says the trauma is often caused by an upset parent or adult caregiver.

"If you take that infant then use vigorous force that shakes the brain back and forth inside the skill it cause a rupture of the blood vessel that results in bleeding in the brain," said Dr. Lipscomb.

She says the best way to prevent this abuse is through education.

"For parents to recognize when they are frustrated or tired that they need to get help or they need to learn to walk away," said Dr. Lipscomb.

Dr. Lipscomb says healthcare professional should also step in to help.

Carrier will be seen in court on September 19.