An investigation into UF Health Jacksonville physician Dr. Barbara Knox in January revealed a series of complaints against the doctor, including bullying, patient endangerment and racism.
Since then, employees at the First Coast Child Protection Team have reported no change in Knox’s behavior and a lack of action from the university.
“Dr. [Mark] Hudak has refused to hold Dr. Knox accountable,” a CPT employee said, speaking anonymously out of fear of retaliation.
Despite claims the university has failed to take these complaints seriously, individuals outside the medical field have taken notice.
One of them, a lawyer based in Northeast Florida, said Knox’s past conduct, combined with new complaints, is cause for serious concern regarding her influence in court. The lawyer is representing a client in a case centering on Knox’s testimony.
“Dr. Knox has a history of troublesome diagnoses that other doctors do not agree with, that courts do not agree with, that sometimes police do not agree with,” the attorney said, speaking anonymously in order to avoid compromising clients’ identities. “She can tear a family apart with just signing one report.”
Even when families are able to overturn decisions made based on Knox’s testimony, the attorney said, the legal fees associated with doing so can be enormous and damaging.
Financially, the attorney also raised concerns that Knox tends to profit from making accusations of child abuse as “she gets called in to testify, and she can charge hourly for that.”
However, she said prosecutors “are still relying on her word to take people’s children away, to file criminal charges.” Despite the ongoing complaints, Knox is still being called upon to testify in court, the attorney said.
According to the attorney, UF’s lack of action is akin to an endorsement of Knox’s behavior. Moreover, she said UF endangers the Jacksonville community by continuing to allow Knox’s behavior to go unchecked.
“If [the] whole Child Protection Team quits, that puts [the] whole city in danger, and that’s exactly what she did in Alaska,” the attorney said.
Florida Department of Health communications director Jae Williams said “The department can neither confirm nor deny the receipt of any complaints or the existence of any ongoing investigations until 10 days after probable cause is found.” However, the department does investigate if it receives a complaint of medical misconduct, Williams said.
UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said the university does not comment on personnel matters.
This is a developing story.
Contact Avery Parker at aparker@alligator.org. Follow him on X @AveryParke98398.
Avery Parker is a third-year English and History major covering university affairs for The Alligator. Outside of reporting, Avery spends his time doting on his cats, reading, and listening to music by the Manwolves.
