Family battling Children’s Hospital to bring teen home for Christmas #2

[Linda7NJ]

Patient Name: Justina Pelletier

Originated by: Stephanie Newton MS on 2/10/13

Authenticated by: Gerard Berry MD on 2/13/13

Print Date/Time: 4/25/2013



"HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Justina has a longstanding history of possible mitochondrial disease with abdominal pain, poor motility, headaches and fatigue. These concerns started becoming much more severe in October 2012 when she began having what is described as odd movements of her right leg which caused her foot to pronate. She was seen by an orthopedic doctor, Dr. Webster at Tufts who prescribed a brace for the leg. Over time Justina's abnormal movements began to affect the left leg and now the rest of the body is affected. Her mother reports that over the past week she has had increased weakness which cause (sic) her to not be able to walk. She is having significant leg pain. Her headaches are becoming worse with light and sound. She also has intermittent slurred speech and altered mental status. Her mother reports that over the last 6-8 weeks her slurred speech and 'gibberish language' has been getting worse. Justina was admitted to Connecticut Children's Hospital on Monday February 04 due to worsening neurological problems as noted above. Her mother reports that it was difficult to complete this admission as Justina was not felt to have a known identifiable diagnosis. Her mother chose to bring her home from the hospital on February 8 hoping that she would do better. After discharge she was still not doing well, complained of feeling weird was not eating and had abnormalities on swallowing. Her other physicians were consulted and it was recommended that she be admitted here at Boston Chidlren's Hospital. She has been here since February 10."

https://www.facebook.com/BeauBermanFOXCT/posts/536571959772161



BBM

Thank you!!!!


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[believe09]

Good for Lou. At least he isn't pretending.

 

[believe09]

Patient Name: Justina Pelletier
Originated by: Stephanie Newton MS on 2/10/13
Authenticated by: Gerard Berry MD on 2/13/13
Print Date/Time: 4/25/2013

"HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Justina has a longstanding history of possible mitochondrial disease with abdominal pain, poor motility, headaches and fatigue. These concerns started becoming much more severe in October 2012 when she began having what is described as odd movements of her right leg which caused her foot to pronate. She was seen by an orthopedic doctor, Dr. Webster at Tufts who prescribed a brace for the leg. Over time Justina's abnormal movements began to affect the left leg and now the rest of the body is affected. Her mother reports that over the past week she has had increased weakness which cause (sic) her to not be able to walk. She is having significant leg pain. Her headaches are becoming worse with light and sound. She also has intermittent slurred speech and altered mental status. Her mother reports that over the last 6-8 weeks her slurred speech and 'gibberish language' has been getting worse. Justina was admitted to Connecticut Children's Hospital on Monday February 04 due to worsening neurological problems as noted above. Her mother reports that it was difficult to complete this admission as Justina was not felt to have a known identifiable diagnosis. Her mother chose to bring her home from the hospital on February 8 hoping that she would do better. After discharge she was still not doing well, complained of feeling weird was not eating and had abnormalities on swallowing. Her other physicians were consulted and it was recommended that she be admitted here at Boston Chidlren's Hospital. She has been here since February 10."

https://www.facebook.com/BeauBermanFOXCT/posts/536571959772161

BBM

I need more specifics, respectfully. Her other physicians were consulted and agreed that she needed to be admitted to a psychiatric lock down unit?

 

[jaunty-girl]

Good for Lou. At least he isn't pretending.

He's been pretending for a good long time. Like when he's asserted that his daughter has been dying for months.

 

[annahanna]

I need more specifics, respectfully. Her other physicians were consulted and agreed that she needed to be admitted to a psychiatric lock down unit?

Her other physicians were consulted about her admission to Boston Children's Hospital. Originally, she was in the neurological unit. She was not admitted to the Bader 5 until April 2013.

 

[sweetmom]

Then they should have talked to her regular doctor. They suspect abuse because the parents don't agree with them ?

What makes you think they did not talk to her "regular" doc?

 

[Linda7NJ]

What makes you think they did not talk to her "regular" doc?

Wasnt her "regular doc" one of the doctors that hotlined the family to CPS back in Connecticut?


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[sweetmom]

I think having your child taken from you and not knowing what's happening to them could easily make a sane person crazy.

I think doing everything you can to criticize, slow down or block the efforts to have your child returned to you could easily be the sign of a mentally unwell person. One with a martyr complex.

 

[annahanna]

Taking her away was pretty instantaneous, getting her back should be too.

I guess that depends on your perspective. Granting temporary custody to DCF (2/14/13) was a 4 day process from Justina's admission to BCH on February 10, 2013. However this was the 3rd serious allegation of abuse or neglect of this child. If MA DCF had not acted, and something had happened to Justina, the public would be screaming about the incompetence of DCF.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/15/justina/vnwzbbNdiodSD7WDTh6xZI/story.html

"The Pelletiers had butted heads with other doctors in Connecticut — Justina’s pediatrician there would accuse them of doctor-shopping and “firing” multiple providers. And despite their fondness for Justina’s main doctors at Tufts, they had previously clashed with other members of the Tufts staff, who had filed an allegation of neglect with the Connecticut child-protection agency in late 2011."

Returning custody to parents that were previously found to be abusive (and the Pelletiers were) is not generally a quick process. Usually, it is taken in steps with a lot of counseling and longer and longer visits home. So far, Justina has only been home for 2 short visits - and not yet overnight.

 

[sweetmom]

I need more specifics, respectfully. Her other physicians were consulted and agreed that she needed to be admitted to a psychiatric lock down unit?

If you Google the endless stories out there on the Web, and in particular read the judge's report, which is attached to the long Globe story, you will see that yes, they were and they did.

IMO, she was admitted to Bader to keep control of her parents' visitations, to "lock them out," not to "lock her in." And that, IMO, was because the parents were upsetting Justina and other families...so much so that those families complained to hospital staff. That is mentioned in the judge's report.

You may then say, well, that is because the parents were so upset. But their hysterical behavior resulted in keeping Justina in the hospital for much longer than the hospital wanted. The parents --- not the hospital, not the judge, not DCF, not the GAL --- acted in just the wrong way if they really wanted to get Justina home quickly.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I think doing everything you can to criticize, slow down or block the efforts to have your child returned to you could easily be the sign of a mentally unwell person. One with a martyr complex.

Or political aspirations. Or enjoys the media attention...all IMO


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[annahanna]

Then they should have talked to her regular doctor. They suspect abuse because the parents don't agree with them ?

They did talk to her "regular doctor". It has been reported extensively in MSM that her pediatrician was consulted and quoted throughout the court filing requesting temporary custody to DCF. Additionally, the first article in the 2 part Boston Globe series indicates that Dr Peters had her medical records on January 10th.

"Just a few hours after Peters had first examined Justina, he entered a lengthy addendum to his admission notes, writing that he was concerned about the care she had received from numerous providers in different facilities and states, “the number of invasive procedures Justina has been submitted to, [and] the black and white thinking of Mom.” And he challenged Linda’s declaration of the mito diagnosis, saying Justina’s medical records suggested much less certainty."
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/15/justina/vnwzbbNdiodSD7WDTh6xZI/story.html

 

[Morag]

I need more specifics, respectfully. Her other physicians were consulted and agreed that she needed to be admitted to a psychiatric lock down unit?

These case notes from the first week she was admitted are the closest thing to actual specific records we have. Everything else is confidential. Her other physicians agreed that she should be admitted to BCH, even though her doctors at Connecticut Childrens Hospital did not believe she had a "known identifiable diagnosis." From reading "voluminous" psychiatric and medical records, the judge in the case found that she suffered from somatoform disorder. He didn't make that decision because of what one of her physicians had said, he based it on the complete record.

We have no idea what those records contain.

 

[K_Z]

Her other physicians were consulted about her admission to Boston Children's Hospital. Originally, she was in the neurological unit. She was not admitted to the Bader 5 until April 2013.

Wow, seriously? Where was she from Feb 10 to April? A medical unit? A 6-8 week admission BEFORE being transferred to the Bader 5 psychiatric unit?

That is fascinating. That actually makes much more sense to me, then. I haven't followed this case closely, and from the parents media comments, I thought she was admitted from the Boston children's hospital ER directly to the psych unit.

If she was admitted to a medical service for several weeks preceding the transfer to Bader, they have a lot of information we are not privy to. But the courts and the judge do, and that's what's important.

 

[Minette]

Wait, so her 'regular' doctors agreed she needed to be admitted to a secured psychiatric ward, or did they agree that she should be admitted to the hospital for further testing?

Because if it's the former, I would like to see a link(s) specifically stating that, TIA!

 

[annahanna]

Wow, seriously? Where was she from Feb 10 to April? A medical unit? A 6-8 week admission BEFORE being transferred to the Bader 5 psychiatric unit?

That is fascinating. That actually makes much more sense to me, then. I haven't followed this case closely, and from the parents media comments, I thought she was admitted from the Boston children's hospital ER directly to the psych unit.

If she was admitted to a medical service for several weeks preceding the transfer to Bader, they have a lot of information we are not privy to. But the courts and the judge do, and that's what's important.

"In April, doctors told Justina that she was being transferred to Bader 5 — the hospital’s psychiatric ward that focuses on the treatment of seriously troubled children who may pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.". http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/15/justina/vnwzbbNdiodSD7WDTh6xZI/story.html

Seriously. Justina was hospitalized on February 10th. I believe she was admitted to the neurological floor. I believe that she was transferred to Bader 5 on April 23rd - this is based on the letter from Nurse Higgins to DCF, the date the partial clinic note from Dr Berry was printed, and other sources. IF that date is accurate, then BCH had 10 weeks of evaluation and diagnostics prior to determining that Justina was "seriously troubled" and may pose a risk to herself or others. I agree that there is a lot of information that the public is not privy to - but the judge and DCF are.

 

[1&2&3]

I have always felt a big issue was upon admittance to BCH, Justina never saw the specialist she went there to see. She was seen by a new graduate physician, who then called in another doctor, but never the one she was suppose to see.

Justina's case is difficult, however, as a parent, for a new doctor to give me a different diagnosis without me seeing the specialist I had come to see, I would be upset. Was Justina's doctor ever notified she was in the hospital? I know this new doctor felt Justina's test results did not show Mitro.

Wait a minute! One doctor is treating a child for one thing, and this new "kid" doctor is telling me it is something else? Who would not be totally floored? This is where everything turned into the nightmare we've seen.

The parents are another issue. However, I think BCH and DCF and the Judge (court system) are all in each other's pocket. In what state can DCF get custody for a child in just days?
They sure got Justina quickly! So begins the saga of who knows what really transpired?
Angry upset parents against a well known hospital that may have jumped the gun a bit too soon on calling DCF?

My opinion is that is exactly what happened. BCH made a mistake that has escalated bigger than they could have ever imagined!

My opinion only!

 

[annahanna]

Wait, so her 'regular' doctors agreed she needed to be admitted to a secured psychiatric ward, or did they agree that she should be admitted to the hospital for further testing?

Because if it's the former, I would like to see a link(s) specifically stating that, TIA!

The partial clinical note from Dr Berry on the date of admission states: "Her other physicians were consulted and it was recommended that she be admitted here at Boston Chidlren's Hospital. She has been here since February 10.". At that point she was admitted to a medical unit not a psychiatric unit. Justina was transferred approximately 10 weeks later to the Bader 5 unit.

 

[Minette]

Thank you, annahanna. I had gotten the impression from earlier posts that Justina's regular doctors had agreed she needed to be initially admitted to Bader 5. :rose:

 

[annahanna]

I have always felt a big issue was upon admittance to BCH, Justina never saw the specialist she went there to see. She was seen by a new graduate physician, who then called in another doctor, but never the one she was suppose to see.

Justina's case is difficult, however, as a parent, for a new doctor to give me a different diagnosis without me seeing the specialist I had come to see, I would be upset. Was Justina's doctor ever notified she was in the hospital? I know this new doctor felt Justina's test results did not show Mitro.

Wait a minute! One doctor is treating a child for one thing, and this new "kid" doctor is telling me it is something else? Who would not be totally floored? This is where everything turned into the nightmare we've seen.

The parents are another issue. However, I think BCH and DCF and the Judge (court system) are all in each other's pocket. In what state can DCF get custody for a child in just days?
They sure got Justina quickly! So begins the saga of who knows what really transpired?
Angry upset parents against a well known hospital that may have jumped the gun a bit too soon on calling DCF?

My opinion is that is exactly what happened. BCH made a mistake that has escalated bigger than they could have ever imagined!

My opinion only!

Several of your points have been addressed in previous posts. Briefly:

* justina did not see Dr Flores because he was not in the hospital that weekend and not on call. Additionally, she was not his patient of record at BCH as she had not seen him since he took the job there. The appropriate way to transfer her care from Dr Flores at Tufts to Dr Flores at BCH would have been to call and make an appointment during normal office hours or in an emergency have the Tufts physician who (the parents claim) suggested she be seen by Flores call and arrange a direct admit directly through Dr Flores. Neither of those things happened. You can not show up by ambulance in the middle of the night in a snowstorm on a weekend and expect to be seen by one particular physician. That is not how hospitals work. (Links available in previous posts)

* Dr Peters is not a new doctor - although Lou Pelletier and his team have tried to characterize him as such. He graduated from medical school in 2002 - 12 years ago. He did extensive specialty training over the next 10 years including significant sub-specialty training. He has published extensively. Doctors do practice medicine during their internship/residency/fellowship periods. Dr Peters is no "kid". (Links available in previous posts)

* "In what state can DCF get custody for a child in just days?"
In instances where a child's life and long term well being is considered in jeopardy - all of them.