By Diana Novak Jones

(Reuters) -New Jersey’s top court on Thursday became the first in the U.S. to prohibit prosecutors from presenting expert testimony that shaking a baby can on its own cause injuries severe enough to justify bringing child abuse charges.

The diagnosis of “Shaken Baby Syndrome” or Abusive Head Trauma has formed the basis of thousands of criminal child abuse cases since the 1970s. It is a leading cause of child abuse-related deaths in children under five, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the science supporting the diagnosis has come under scrutiny in recent years, with newer research showing that the injuries could have other causes.

In a 6-1 ruling in two criminal cases brought against fathers accused of abusing their infant sons

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