Former Tacoma Child Abuse Expert Settles Lawsuit with Parents

Dr. Elizabeth Woods accused of providing flawed medical opinions that led to child removals

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:00am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a broken doll's head, the harsh lighting casting dramatic shadows and highlighting the object's worn, damaged texture, conceptually representing the trauma experienced by children wrongfully separated from their families.A harsh flash illuminates the remnants of a child's toy, a stark reminder of the trauma inflicted on families by flawed child abuse investigations.Tacoma Today

Nearly a dozen parents in Tacoma, Washington have confidentially settled a federal lawsuit against Dr. Elizabeth Woods, the former director of a local hospital's child abuse unit. The parents accused Woods of giving flawed medical opinions to authorities that resulted in their children being wrongfully removed from their custody.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns over the power and influence of medical experts in child abuse investigations, and the potential for their opinions to be biased or unsupported by evidence, leading to devastating consequences for families. It also raises questions about oversight and accountability for such experts.

The details

The complaint alleged that during her time leading the child abuse unit, Dr. Woods provided false, incomplete, or unsupportable evidence to authorities, which then led to the parents losing custody of their children. The parents claimed this caused significant trauma and disruption to their families.

  • The lawsuit was filed in federal court in 2025.
  • The case was confidentially settled in April 2026.

The players

Dr. Elizabeth Woods

The former director of the child abuse unit at a Tacoma hospital, who was accused of providing flawed medical opinions that led to the wrongful removal of children from their parents' custody.

Tacoma Hospital

The hospital where Dr. Woods previously led the child abuse unit.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability of medical experts involved in child abuse investigations, to ensure their opinions are based on sound evidence and do not result in the unjust separation of families.