Georgia Mom Speaks Out After Resignation of Pediatrician Accused of Wrongful Abuse Claims
GEORGIA — Diana Sullivan is finally home with her children after a painful 19-month custody battle, triggered by accusations of child abuse made by Florida’s Dr. Barbara Knox — a controversial child abuse pediatrician who has now officially resigned from the University of Florida.
Sullivan and her husband were forced to fight for nearly two years to regain custody of their three young children after their infant daughter’s swollen leg led to what she calls a misdiagnosed case of abuse at a Jacksonville emergency room.
“I’m very grateful to be home,” Sullivan said. “I would never have made it through this without my faith. God has truly been my rock.”
Doctor Played ‘Large Role’ in Family’s Separation
The allegations stemmed from 2022 when Sullivan took her baby daughter to the ER. Doctors — including Dr. Knox, then head of the First Coast Child Protection Team — concluded that the child’s fractures were signs of abuse. That finding led to immediate removal of the children and strict supervised visitation.
“A very large role… She was a driving force behind the accusations, making everything sound much more egregious than it was,” Sullivan told First Coast News.
Sullivan maintains her daughter’s injuries were the result of a then-undiagnosed medical condition — not abuse.
“I will say without a shadow of a doubt my child was not abused,” she said.
Pediatrician Resigns Amid Broader Scrutiny
Knox’s resignation from the University of Florida took effect August 15, ending a turbulent tenure marked by multiple complaints. Just seven months ago, nine members of her Child Protection Team formally called for her removal due to a toxic work environment and concerns about her handling of abuse cases.
Sullivan said her emotions were mixed when she learned Knox had officially signed the separation agreement.
“It was a mixture of happy tears at first… and then the what-if — what if she would have resigned before? Why did we have to encounter her?”
Families in Wisconsin, Alaska, and now Florida have also come forward disputing Knox’s findings, alleging wrongful accusations and life-altering trauma.
Lasting Trauma and a Call for Accountability
The ordeal left deep scars for Sullivan and her family, who initially faced the threat of permanent termination of their parental rights. A judge later ruled in their favor, declaring it was in the children’s best interest to return home.
“She took milestones from me that I will never get back. She took a breastfeeding mom away from her newborn babies,” Sullivan said.
She believes the Florida medical board should now launch a full investigation to ensure Knox cannot continue treating families without accountability.
“These children are being removed from loving homes and innocent families going through the worst trauma of their lives.”
“To think about families that don’t have the financial means to fight for their kids and just have to give up — it has to stop somewhere. Someone has to stop being scared.”
Mom Now Advocates for Other Families
Sullivan says she won’t stop speaking out now that she knows how easily families can be torn apart by flawed medical judgments. Her story is part of a growing national spotlight on child abuse pediatricians and the unchecked power they can hold in family court cases.
“There’s no way I will be able to know this world exists now and other families could be going through this,” she said. “If I could do anything to advocate and make a change, I will be doing it.”
Despite multiple requests, Dr. Barbara Knox has not responded to First Coast News for comment.
What’s your take on how child protection investigations are handled across state lines? Should medical experts like Dr. Knox be subject to stricter oversight? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
