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

[Linda7NJ]

Slurring in mitochondrial disease can be caused by an altered metabolism, dehydration, and/or exhaustion of muscle or person.

no link, I live it

According to her mother, she was speaking "gibberish" and slurring upon her arrival at BCH.
She was also unable to walk, swallow and eat.




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[annahanna]

What are you referring to as psych meds and why would they be contraindicated? I would think SSRIs would be used (they seem to recommend them for almost anything), but those don't slur your speech. Heavy anti-psychotics might, but no idea why she'd be on those. Sedatives might, but those aren't really psych meds and at high enough doses to cause slurring, were probably not to treat somatoform if used.

I placed the term "psych" meds in quotes because I am not the party making the allegation. The other poster has repeatedly made the allegation that Justina appeared heavily medicated with "psych" meds.

The recognized treatment for somatoform disorder is cognative behavioral therapy, group therapy, family counseling, stress reduction, reduction in medical providers, and reduction in medications and procedures whenever possible. Medications are used very sparingly - if absolutely necessary, they are used cautiously.

 

[CHICANA]

The hospital, which had access to all her records going back to events in CT, did believe there was abuse. None of us have seen those records. Of course, you can choose to believe whatever you like, and so can I. But we don't KNOW.

How were they blocking? By making public statements that they would sue or stage angry protests at any facility that agreed to admit Justina. Unsurprisingly, most facilities that might have accepted Justina then said "no thanks" until Wayside finally agreed to do it. That is why she spent an extra YEAR in Massachusetts. IMO, it was the choices made by her parents, out of ego or anger or bad legal advice or all 3, who kept her away from home for an extra year.

No, the state has not called them mentally unwell. But IMO, they are. And if they are unwise enough to launch lawsuits, IMO, a lot of hitherto unknown facts about how the parents have behaved will be brought forward. IMO, they won't like that.

If they bring a lawsuit, it will be based on the premise that there was no evidence of abuse or neglect to justify the removal of Justina, no services were offered or provided to prevent the traumatic removal of this child from her family, home and life, and that she was unnecessarily kept in a mental health ward for a grossly long period of time. I'm sure there's a lot more that I'm not coming up with. Since their mental state doesn't appear to have anything to do with her being taken in the first place, I don't think it will matter one bit when they hopefully take this to court.
It seems to me that everyone has forgotten that parents have a fundamental (and imo god given) right to raise their children as they see fit. A child is supposed to be at risk of serious physical abuse or death before such drastic measures are taken.

All of the above is my opinion only.

 

[CHICANA]

It's not evil.
It's physical rehabilitation.
It's not torture.



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I wouldn't know. I wasn't there.

 

[CHICANA]

I get an error on that link...
I'm really surprised though at the venomous response that I see towards this young girl and her family.

I'm with you. I can't believe those that actually assume this poor child is lying.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I'm with you. I can't believe those that actually assume this poor child is lying.

Who said she's lying?

I specifically stated from her perspective I'm sure her physical therapy felt like torture.
Nothing she described is abusive or torturous. It's therapy nothing more.



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[sweetmom]

Well I've noticed Justina tries her hardest to parrot Lou. Lou IMO is a known liar.

I did notice she appeared to be FAR from deaths door...as Lou stated repeatedly.

The media that lap this up and regurgitate the blatant conflicting tales that spew from Lou...are a JOKE. Surely, they can ferret out confidential sources to get the other side out. Lazy lazy lazy agenda driven nonsense.
They should be ashamed.

IMO


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You are so sadly right about the incompetent reporting of this story. Far too many papers/TV stations just echoed one another's stories without ever trying to get objective confirmation of the wild and conflicting accusations the Pelletiers have made and still are making. Not journalism's finest hour.

 

[sweetmom]

I'm with you. I can't believe those that actually assume this poor child is lying.

Not lying, just dutifully parroting the things her parents have coached her to say. Which is very, very sad.

 

[Morag]

No one on this board- no one- is venomous toward Justina. On the contrary, every one of us wants nothing but the best for her. We all want her to be happy and healthy and physically fit.

Some believe that the state of Massachusetts wants to perform experiments on her, or to torture her, or to make fun of her, or to make a lot of money on her.

Some believe that her parents deliberately or inadvertently made her sicker, or forced her to undergo treatment unnecessarily, or encouraged her to be sicker than she was. Some believe that BCH and DCF and the judge were right to be concerned about Justina's condition- and her parents' behavior-and that she was lawfully and carefully taken from a bad situation in order to protect her.

But there is not a single person on the board who has anything but respect and concern for Justina.

There is more to this story than just what has been able to be printed and what the Pelletiers and their supporters have said. The 'voluminous' records examined by Judge Johnston includes interviews with Justina, with her parents, with all of her doctors, and with therapists who treated her in BCH and Bader. The decision to remove Justina from her home was based on extensive amounts of information- not on the wild and crazy opinions of anyone who works in the hospital or in DCF.

Most people in Connecticut or Massachusetts would feel completely confident in having their children treated at BCH. It's one of the best hospitals in the country, not a hellhole of torture.

 

[sweetmom]

If they bring a lawsuit, it will be based on the premise that there was no evidence of abuse or neglect to justify the removal of Justina, no services were offered or provided to prevent the traumatic removal of this child from her family, home and life, and that she was unnecessarily kept in a mental health ward for a grossly long period of time. I'm sure there's a lot more that I'm not coming up with. Since their mental state doesn't appear to have anything to do with her being taken in the first place, I don't think it will matter one bit when they hopefully take this to court.
It seems to me that everyone has forgotten that parents have a fundamental (and imo god given) right to raise their children as they see fit. A child is supposed to be at risk of serious physical abuse or death before such drastic measures are taken.

All of the above is my opinion only.

Well, IMO:
NO parent has the right to raise their children as they see fit IF their methods result in harm to the child. And I am pretty sure God never gives parents the RIGHT to harm their kids.

BCH, after studying her medical records and observing her for several days (not a few minutes as the family claims) believed there was medical abuse and by state law, they HAD to report their concerns.


"....she was unnecessarily kept in a mental health ward for a grossly long period of time"
Again, it was her parents poor choices that kept her there "for a grossly long period of time."

"....Since their mental state doesn't appear to have anything to do with her being taken in the first place..."

Oh, but it did. They were out of control and making hysterical and unfounded accusations that scared other patients and their families so much that they complained to the hospital staff, threatening to harm the social worker, claiming Justina was being harassed and tortured and having her teeth broken BUT NEVER PRESENTING PROOF...all of that behavior contributed to DCF gaining and keeping custody for a long time.

 

[momrids6]

According to her mother, she was speaking "gibberish" and slurring upon her arrival at BCH.
She was also unable to walk, swallow and eat.




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Exactly.

 

[sweetmom]

from the comments on today's Boston Globe analysis of the Pelletier case:

pegnva06/19/14 06:10 AM

It worked...Last night WBZ' Dan Rea helped the cause along with a tele interview with Mr. Pelletier and he again said the family is going to a game at Fenway Park "and they're working on Justina throwing out the first ball"...The family wants their privacy, don't ya know.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...I/comments.html?p1=ArticleTab_Comments_Bottom

Wow.

 

[jaunty-girl]

from the comments on today's Boston Globe analysis of the Pelletier case:

pegnva06/19/14 06:10 AM

It worked...Last night WBZ' Dan Rea helped the cause along with a tele interview with Mr. Pelletier and he again said the family is going to a game at Fenway Park "and they're working on Justina throwing out the first ball"...The family wants their privacy, don't ya know.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...I/comments.html?p1=ArticleTab_Comments_Bottom

Wow.

They must not hate Boston all that much, or they just like the attention more.
Seriously though, I thought Justina was weak? You'd think that they would want to let her get her bearings at home, at least a little while.

 

[Gardenlady]

from the comments on today's Boston Globe analysis of the Pelletier case:



pegnva06/19/14 06:10 AM



It worked...Last night WBZ' Dan Rea helped the cause along with a tele interview with Mr. Pelletier and he again said the family is going to a game at Fenway Park "and they're working on Justina throwing out the first ball"...The family wants their privacy, don't ya know.



http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...I/comments.html?p1=ArticleTab_Comments_Bottom



Wow.

Omg Lou, just go home. You and your supporters have been crying about what a Soviet hell hole Boston and Massachusetts are for MONTHS now, so GO HOME and let your daughter get better in PRIVATE.

I knew this man wouldn't go away.



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[CHICANA]

You are so sadly right about the incompetent reporting of this story. Far too many papers/TV stations just echoed one another's stories without ever trying to get objective confirmation of the wild and conflicting accusations the Pelletiers have made and still are making. Not journalism's finest hour.

I don't think the reporting is incompetent.
While the state can't release information, the parents have the right to ALL the info in their case file. I'm sure the reporters have seen the documentation regarding the removal of Justina and I'd be willing to bet it matches the Pelletier's account.

 

[CHICANA]

Omg Lou, just go home. You and your supporters have been crying about what a Soviet hell hole Boston and Massachusetts are for MONTHS now, so GO HOME and let your daughter get better in PRIVATE.

I knew this man wouldn't go away.



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If what they're saying is true, it shouldn't go away.

 

[CHICANA]

Well, IMO:
NO parent has the right to raise their children as they see fit IF their methods result in harm to the child. And I am pretty sure God never gives parents the RIGHT to harm their kids.

BCH, after studying her medical records and observing her for several days (not a few minutes as the family claims) believed there was medical abuse and by state law, they HAD to report their concerns.


"....she was unnecessarily kept in a mental health ward for a grossly long period of time"
Again, it was her parents poor choices that kept her there "for a grossly long period of time."

"....Since their mental state doesn't appear to have anything to do with her being taken in the first place..."

Oh, but it did. They were out of control and making hysterical and unfounded accusations that scared other patients and their families so much that they complained to the hospital staff, threatening to harm the social worker, claiming Justina was being harassed and tortured and having her teeth broken BUT NEVER PRESENTING PROOF...all of that behavior contributed to DCF gaining and keeping custody for a long time.

She wasn't abused, the state sure didn't have to provide much evidence, I mean the parents were going to take her to another hospital, they weren't denying her medical care. Who made these allegations against the parents. I missed the interviews with the parents that were harassed by the Pelletier's, can you please provide a link ?

 

[CHICANA]

Who said she's lying?

I specifically stated from her perspective I'm sure her physical therapy felt like torture.
Nothing she described is abusive or torturous. It's therapy nothing more.



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That wasn't in response to your post

 

[liljim]

She wasn't abused, the state sure didn't have to provide much evidence, I mean the parents were going to take her to another hospital, they weren't denying her medical care. Who made these allegations against the parents. I missed the interviews with the parents that were harassed by the Pelletier's, can you please provide a link ?

multiple doctors at multiple facilities over a period of years suspected or accused the pelletier's of medical abuse.

taking your child to another facility can in fact be denying them medical care. if we were dealing with different illnesses here the conversation would not even be taking place.

regarding how much evidence the state had to provide - when did you see the entirety of the evidence? please post a link.

 

[sweetmom]

I don't think the reporting is incompetent.
While the state can't release information, the parents have the right to ALL the info in their case file. I'm sure the reporters have seen the documentation regarding the removal of Justina and I'd be willing to bet it matches the Pelletier's account.

I've been a journalist for many years and can honestly say that most of the reporting, except for the Globe, was terrible. The blogs were the worst.

Using loaded, emotional words such as "kidnapped" and "seized" without attribution to the parents and rebuttal by the hospital or DCF in a news story is wrong and unethical. Repeating such "facts" put out by the family as the ER doctor was nothing more than an intern when in truth he had been a full-fledged doctor for 11 or more years is very wrong and unprofessional.

Too many reporters took the Pelletiers at their word and did not attempt to check the truthfulness of their ranting. Then other papers and blogs picked up those early unchecked statements and re-reported them as fact.

That is lousy journalism. IMO.

Here's some REAL documentation of what went down at BCH, from the Globe:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyl...ssachusetts/puyPhesGkKE6rGLid2VM2L/story.html


",,,,,,,The judge’s four-page decision, which was provided to the Globe, was remarkable for its detail and forcefulness. Johnston faulted Connecticut’s child protection agency for its failure to get involved in a case involving a child from its state, and faulted Pelletier’s parents for their verbally abusive manner and haphazard decision-making that he says has sabotaged plans to move their daughter closer to home.


Johnston wrote that the parents called Boston Children’s Hospital personnel Nazis “and claimed the hospital was punishing and killing Justina. Efforts by hospital clinicians to work with the parents were futile and never went anywhere.”

More recently, he wrote, “there has not been any progress by the parents. Rather, the parents . . . continue to engage in very concerning conduct that does not give this court any confidence they will comply with conditions of custody.” He noted that because of allegations that Justina’s father, Lou Pelletier, threatened a state social worker assigned to the case, the worker had to be reassigned.