Source (FOX 5 Atlanta) – A mother from College Park is seeking accountability after an urgent care clinic wrongly diagnosed her 5-year-old daughter with several sexually transmitted infections, leading to a police investigation and the involvement of Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) — only for subsequent tests to reveal that the initial results were incorrect.
The situation unfolded in April when the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous to safeguard her family’s privacy, brought her ill daughter to an urgent care facility. Following a standard urine test, the staff informed her that her child had tested positive for trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia — a diagnosis the mother instantly suspected to be inaccurate.
“I knew right then that was incorrect because I protect my daughter,” she told FOX 5. The clinic, following mandatory reporting laws, alerted law enforcement and DFACS, leading to a distressing visit from authorities.
“I couldn’t even breathe when they came to my house,” she said, recalling the trauma. “I was really thinking like they’re about to take my child away from me.”
Subsequent testing at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and a follow-up test ordered by the urgent care center returned negative results, confirming the initial diagnosis was a mistake.
The family’s attorney, Stephen Fowler, says his firm is actively investigating the incident. “There is evidence of some serious concerns regarding the handling of this child’s healthcare,” Fowler said, adding that the family is now seeking justice.
The urgent care facility, through its attorney, responded with a statement defending its actions, citing legal obligations to report such results and explaining that it relied on a third-party lab for testing.
The mother says she’s speaking out to prevent other families from enduring a similar experience. “She’s still wondering why did that happen to her… why was she looked at down there?” she said of her daughter.
The case remains under review as the family considers legal action.
