“Red flags” were raised; who paid attention? People hear; who listened? There needn’t have been 103+ victims in the Bradley case.

An independent review of the Earl Bradley case, helmed by Governor-appointed Linda Ammons (Widener University Law School Dean), confirmed that authorities knew of complaints against Bradley as early as the mid-1990s. Ammons’ report referred to mistakes made in a 1994 Philadelphia investigation of Bradley on accusations that he had inappropriately touched a child. Said investigation prompted Bradley to move his practice to the Beebe Medical Center in Delaware, where he was recently indicted on 529 counts of sexual abuse and exploitation of at least 103 children.

USA Today quotes Ammon’s report as saying:

“A tragedy of this magnitude may have been preempted if the individuals directly involved had been more focused and alert, less willing to give Bradley the benefit of the doubt, and if they had scrupulously followed the law.”

Highlights:

·      Investigators were denied a search warrant for Bradley’s office in December 2008. The judge said he would, however, sign a warrant for Bradley’s arrest. Prosecutors determined there wasn’t enough evidence to prove misconduct.

·      Between the judge’s denial in 2008 to December 2009, Bradley is reported to have raped/abused 50 young girls.

·      The original 1994 complaint by a victim’s mother was dismissed by Philadelphia medical licensing authorities. Police called the mother “not credible”.

·      The Delaware Board of Medical Practice discussed the complaint with Philadelphia authorities and deemed action unnecessary.

Ammons’ report also inquired why Delaware’s medical board allegedly hadn’t been contacted even though there were several allegations against the pediatrician and law enforcement investigations. Delaware statutes require reporting to the medical board when mandatory reporters conclude that a doctor may be guilty of misconduct or may be unfit.