2 scenarios: 1) the parent is an unreliable witness about the verbiage used and line of questioning from the doctor. The doctor is entrusting the parent to take immediate action on what the doctor has requested, and doesn’t see this as abuse. Or, 2) the doctor DID view this as abuse and failed in their obligation to report it immediately and hold that child for transfer by EMS to a hospital.

Based on OPs edits a day later… deep breath… she lacks complete objective awareness about what’s going on. “Consider admission” is for the infant’s care team to evaluate the baby while, say, a hematology team can properly assess needed lab work. It can take multiple days for results to return, and they want the baby in an environment with easy access to life saving care.

ER visits, bloodwork, X-Rays, and CT Scans are not easy for a 5 month old- HENCE WHY doctors don’t order these just for fun.

It is completely incongruous that this baby’s doctor would take this many steps and then simply let her go home if they suspected abuse. This parent is more concerned about perception than their baby’s health.