<snip> I do feel that unreasonable pressures were put on hospitals and doctors somewhere along the line and I think that created an atmosphere where hospital was forced to go on defensive. Once that happened then the best thing would have been to change hospitals and doctors right away before things escalated.
<snip>I think it became hostile and then for whatever reason a change was not made soon enough before things got way out of hand.
The other thing is it is possible that no matter where Justina went the same types of problems with her health could have happened. So it may not have been anything anyone could have done and she may have had similar issues no matter where she went.
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Although I firmly agree that sometimes the best thing to do is to change doctors when we are unhappy with the care we are receiving, this situation was a bit more complex then not changing doctors/hospitals soon enough.
The parents now claim that they brought her into the hospital due to the flu, but that is simply not correct. Linda Pelletier brought Justina into the ER at Boston's Children's in very bad condition. She was slurring her words, was unable to walk, choking on her own saliva, eyes rolling into the back of her head, etc. (Neurological symptoms, not flu symptoms.) They arrived in the middle of the night, on a weekend, in a significant snowstorm, after a 100+ mile trip by ambulance from their home in West Hartford, CT to the hospital in Boston, MA. Linda Pelletier demanded to see a specific Gastroenterologist - who was not on duty that weekend. The parents clim that their doctor at Tufts told them to take her to see this doctor as he had treated Justina in the past when he worked at Tufts. Forgetting about the fact that a Gastroenterologist would have been the wrong specialty for Justina's presenting symptoms, the reality is that NO MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL would have sent them on a dangerous and harrowing journey across state lines to see a doctor who did not expect them.
The doctors at Boston Children's had a legal obligation to evaluate Justina and provide the best possible care for the symptoms that she was exhibiting at that time. During the evaluation it was determined that it was unlikely that she had Mito, as the mother insisted. The public has not been privy to in-depth medical information, but something in Justina's and Linda's actions, behavior, and speech led the doctors to suspect over medicalization and medical abuse. Regardless of what the Pelletier's have stated, the Department of Children and Families also saw evidence of abuse, and the judicial system concurred. All of these people saw the medical file that the public has not seen. Children's hospitals do not make a habit of recklessly accusing parents of child abuse. If they did that, they would quickly shut their doors due to lack of patients.
As soon as abuse was suspected, the medical professionals had a legal duty as mandated reporters to report their concerns to the Department of Children and Families. The Pelletiers had been reported and investigated twice before. One of the earlier reports was made by her health care team at Tufts. The Pelletiers were not newbies to the child welfare system. Since it took 3 days for the abuse determination to be made and reported, Linda had plenty of time to have Justina discharged against medical advice - just as she did at CT Children's Hospital just days before. I have no idea why she did not try to do so sooner. Perhaps she knew that removing her from a hospital against medical advice too many times would trigger a new investigation?
Justina has been seen and treated by multiple other doctors and hospitals since she was returned to her parents' custody. She has had numerous setbacks and hospitalizations, and several unexplained surgeries. Not once has the family come out with a statement that her new doctors have confirmed a Mito diagnosis in Justina. Justina and her current doctors may or may not know exactly what is wrong with her, but at this time, the public does not. (And honestly, should not.) As a parent of a chronically ill child who has been treated a Boston Children's (and elsewhere), I can tell you that the Pelletier Family's statements and stories to not make sense. I can also tell you that the time period that Justina was at BCH, I encountered her and/or her parents a few (thankfully brief) times. They were rude, demanding, poorly behaved, profane, and at times flat out ridiculous. The circus they created at the entrance to the hospital - even after Justina had been discharged to Wayside - was annoying and dangerous to other people's children's health.