In a ruling eagerly awaited by the medical community, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an emergency room physician was not negligent for failing to contact child welfare authorities after treating a 2-year-old girl who had ingested cologne.

The court overturned an appeals court finding that a reasonable jury could determine that the child’s condition was the result of “reckless” or “grossly or wantonly negligent” conduct or inaction by the parent or guardian.