Kansas City Parents Filed Lawsuit Against Hospital
A couple has sued Children’s Mercy Hospital after an 11-month separation from their children following abuse allegations.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Babies
Sarah Goble and Brian Boox filed a 10-count federal lawsuit against Children’s Mercy Hospital and two doctors. The couple claims the hospital provided a false diagnosis of abuse regarding their 2-month-old son.
Why it matters
The lawsuit challenges the medical findings that led to the state removing the couple's children from their care for nearly one year. The case highlights concerns over how hospitals diagnose child abuse and the resulting involvement of state agencies.
The plaintiffs filed a 52-page complaint detailing the medical events that began when their infant was admitted to the hospital. Doctors had initially reported that the child exhibited 14 fractures, which led to a state-mandated separation.
The players
Sarah Goble
She is a parent who filed the lawsuit and founded the Honest Diagnosis Project, a nonprofit organization established following her family's ordeal.
Brian Boox
He is a parent and plaintiff who filed the federal lawsuit against Children's Mercy Hospital alongside his partner.
Children's Mercy Hospital
This is a pediatric hospital system in Kansas City that is now facing a federal lawsuit over its diagnostic procedures.
Kansas Department for Children and Families
This state agency is responsible for child welfare and removed the couple's children from their home based on hospital reports.
The details
The parents allege that Children's Mercy Hospital provided misleading medical information that caused the Kansas Department for Children and Families to remove both their children from their custody on October 3, 2024. Although the state eventually dropped the case and the abuse allegations were never substantiated, the family remained separated for 11 months.
Timeline
October 2, 2024: The parents brought their 2-month-old infant to the hospital.
October 3, 2024: The state took both children into custody.
October 2025: The children were returned to their parents after an 11-month separation.
September 30, 2026: The parents filed their federal lawsuit.
Culture Shift
This legal challenge represents a broader pushback by families against the diagnostic processes used in institutional pediatric care. It follows a growing trend of parents using advocacy projects to contest findings that result in state custody removals.
This case may lead residents to seek second opinions or legal counsel if they are faced with serious medical accusations at pediatric facilities. It underscores the importance of understanding the documentation used by hospitals when reporting findings to state agencies.
The takeaway
Families facing sudden accusations of abuse in a clinical setting should maintain detailed records of every medical interaction. This lawsuit serves as a reminder of the significant life-altering consequences that can arise from contested diagnostic information.
Further reading
For more on family legal issues in the region, see Babies.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSNT 27.
