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

[MyBelle]

There are truly abusive people DCF could be protecting the children from.
And many times they don't.
But this one sick child they got their paws on.
Who I don't believe was being abused by her parents at all.
What is being done to this poor child now? Why isn't the child in school? How is the well being of the child affected by being away from her family? She sure doesn't appear to be thriving.
Is DCF not expecting the child will ever get out so she doesn't need the education?

While you may not believe the child was being abused, DCF investigated and decided the parents were not fit to care for her and the Judge agreed.

I don't know that the child is or isn't in school. She may very well be engaged in a program of independent study commonly provided children too ill to attend school. If the child doesn't "appear to be thriving" perhaps it is because she is suffering from a psychiatric disorder that isn't easily treated.

 

[Morag]

Am I mistaken, or is "medical child abuse" what used to be called Munchausen syndrom by proxy? From one of the first stories about this sad case:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...l-uncertain/Y7qvYTGsq8QklkxUZvuUgP/story.html

During one visit with Justina, Linda had held needles in her lap. When confronted by staff who insisted she put them away, she complied and explained they were for her diabetes. Linda described the needle incident to the Globe as an innocent mistake.

This seems extremely odd to me, but I am not diabetic. Would it be common to hold needles in your lap- wouldn't they be stowed away in a case or something, taken out only when needed?

I can't believe that DCF has just randomly decided to ruin this family's life.
Both MA and CT departments have seen or learned something to make them keep this child away from her parents.

 

[Morag]

And from the same article:

It said the Children’s doctors “do not know where the parents picked up the current diagnosis and they are hard to disprove.” It included negative comments from Justina’s Connecticut pediatrician about how Linda and Lou had “fired” multiple doctors and “encouraged” the diagnosis of multiple medical problems.

This statement disturbs me as well.

 

[Karmady]

And from the same article:

It said the Children’s doctors “do not know where the parents picked up the current diagnosis and they are hard to disprove.” It included negative comments from Justina’s Connecticut pediatrician about how Linda and Lou had “fired” multiple doctors and “encouraged” the diagnosis of multiple medical problems.

This statement disturbs me as well.

Two more things from that article jumped out having read mostly here and not the msm. That the mito dx was a "working dx" not a dx. Every single time it's mentioned in the article (and there are several mentions) the "working dx" language is included. This tells me it's important to someone since most reporters wouldn't make the distinction, imo.

The second is that she arrived at Childrens in very bad shape and in a wheelchair already. I'd gotten the impression from the thread that her current condition is worse than it was back then. jmo

 

[jjenny]

Two more things from that article jumped out having read mostly here and not the msm. That the mito dx was a "working dx" not a dx. Every single time it's mentioned in the article (and there are several mentions) the "working dx" language is included. This tells me it's important to someone since most reporters wouldn't make the distinction, imo.

The second is that she arrived at Childrens in very bad shape and in a wheelchair already. I'd gotten the impression from the thread that her current condition is worse than it was back then. jmo

Again, when she arrived at Children's she had the flu. The reason she was in wheelchair is because she was transported by the ambulance. She never used wheelchair at home and her family doesn't have one.
As for "working" diagnosis, mitochondrial disease is hard to diagnose. Muscle biopsy was not done on her by either Tuft's or Children's. But at the same time, where is any proof she has somatoform disorder? There is no test for it.
She hasn't improved while being treated for it.
In fact the idea that she somehow causes all her physical symptoms with her mind sounds a lot more kooky to me than the idea that she has a physical reason for her issues.

 

[jjenny]

Am I mistaken, or is "medical child abuse" what used to be called Munchausen syndrom by proxy? From one of the first stories about this sad case:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...l-uncertain/Y7qvYTGsq8QklkxUZvuUgP/story.html

During one visit with Justina, Linda had held needles in her lap. When confronted by staff who insisted she put them away, she complied and explained they were for her diabetes. Linda described the needle incident to the Globe as an innocent mistake.

This seems extremely odd to me, but I am not diabetic. Would it be common to hold needles in your lap- wouldn't they be stowed away in a case or something, taken out only when needed?

I can't believe that DCF has just randomly decided to ruin this family's life.
Both MA and CT departments have seen or learned something to make them keep this child away from her parents.

She has been away from her family for over a year. She hasn't improved. In fact she is worse. She is in wheelchair. Her hairline receded to the point that she looks very bizarre. She is in bad shape. That pretty much rules out Munchausen by Proxy. And CT DCF refuses to get involved with the case. Even though judge tried to get them to be involved. So why don't they want to be involved if there is child abuse? Considering Justina lives in CT. Judge admonished CT DCF for not wanting to take the case. You have to ask yourself why if they believe there is child abuse on a child who lives in CT?

 

[jjenny]

It's been reported in many msm sources that she was diagnosed with mitochondrial disorder by Tuft's doctor Mark Korson who is a specialist on it.
So when the article claims Children's doctors did not know where the parents picked up the current diagnosis that sounds like a completely bogus allegation to me. In fact it was Mark Korson who send her to Children's to see a GI specialist.

"The battle over Pelletier’s care and custody erupted on Valentine’s Day 2013, when her parents attempted to discharge her from Children’s. Linda Pelletier had taken Justina by ambulance to Children’s a few days earlier, at the suggestion of the girl’s coordinating doctor at Tufts, metabolism chief Mark Korson, who had been treating her for mitochondrial disease, a rare group of disorders affecting energy production in the cells."

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...ical-center/rIQlvqj1VsgOsBtOTX3hDJ/story.html

 

[MyBelle]

She has been away from her family for over a year. She hasn't improved. In fact she is worse. She is in wheelchair. Her hairline receded to the point that she looks very bizarre. She is in bad shape. That pretty much rules out Munchausen by Proxy. And CT DCF refuses to get involved with the case. Even though judge tried to get them to be involved. So why don't they want to be involved if there is child abuse? Considering Justina lives in CT. Judge admonished CT DCF for not wanting to take the case. You have to ask yourself why if they believe there is child abuse on a child who lives in CT?

The decision by the Judge is that the placement of the child with her parents isn't in her best interest at this time. Doesn't matter what state has jurisdiction if her parents are what caused her condition.

JMO

 

[jjenny]

???? Nobody is claiming Justina's parents caused her condition.

If you read the judge's ruling, the judge claims (based on testimony from Children's doctor) that Justina has persistent and severe somatic symptom disorder. Which means Justina supposedly has a psychiatric disorder that caused her physical symptoms. She has been treated for this supposed disorder and doesn't appear to be improving.
But her parents aren't accused of causing her symptoms. And quite obviously it would be impossible for them to cause these symptoms, as they only see her for one hour every week, while supervised by numerous DCF persons.
Meanwhile Justina's health appears to be deteriorating.

 

[Karmady]

Again, when she arrived at Children's she had the flu. The reason she was in wheelchair is because she was transported by the ambulance. She never used wheelchair at home and her family doesn't have one.
As for "working" diagnosis, mitochondrial disease is hard to diagnose. Muscle biopsy was not done on her by either Tuft's or Children's. But at the same time, where is any proof she has somatoform disorder? There is no test for it.
She hasn't improved while being treated for it.
In fact the idea that she somehow causes all her physical symptoms with her mind sounds a lot more kooky to me than the idea that she has a physical reason for her issues.

I haven't seen confirmation of a flu dx. But regardless, here's what the article says about her using a wheelchair before she turned up at Childrens.

She spent her days in bed in her private room or in one of the ward’s common rooms for study hall or activities such as arts and crafts and movie night. She used a wheelchair to get around the corridors, because she hadn’t been walking since before she arrived by ambulance in February.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...l-uncertain/Y7qvYTGsq8QklkxUZvuUgP/story.html

 

[jjenny]

I haven't seen confirmation of a flu dx. But regardless, here's what the article says about her using a wheelchair before she turned up at Childrens.

She spent her days in bed in her private room or in one of the ward’s common rooms for study hall or activities such as arts and crafts and movie night. She used a wheelchair to get around the corridors, because she hadn’t been walking since before she arrived by ambulance in February.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...l-uncertain/Y7qvYTGsq8QklkxUZvuUgP/story.html

There is a video of her ice skating. I believe it's either dated December of 2012 or January of 2013. She was admitted to Children's in February of 2013.
So obviously not only she was able to walk, she was able to ice skate not long prior to being admitted to Children's.

 

[Donjeta]

Yesterday, the Pelletier family’s spokesman, Rev. Patrick Mahoney, told TheBlaze that, in his understanding, the ruling is not meant to imply that Justina will never be returned to her parents.

“It’s not a lie, but it’s not 100 percent accurate,” Mahoney told TheBlaze. “In putting the word ['permanent'] out without explaining it, it appears to the casual reader that somehow the Pelletiers have completely lost of Justina until she’s 18 years old and that’s not the case.”

At this point, many are probably questioning the role of the parent’s in this case. After all, how could something this sensational actually happen in America? Glenn maintained, however, that in all his and his staff’s dealings with the family, there have been no red flags.

“The Department of Children and Families have been to this family’s house,” Glenn explained. “If this family were so monstrous, they would remove the other daughter who has the same disorder… They would remove the 95-year-old grandmother. There’s something wrong here, and it’s not with the family.”

http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/03/26...tunning-update-in-the-justina-pelletier-case/


Does that even make sense? How and why would they remove an adult?

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...alk-to-us-i-want-to-have-all-my-guns-blazing/
From this article it appears that Justina's medication prior to the changes contained stuff for pain.

If she was getting a cocktail of many different pain medicines trying to wean her off them might have been a good thing regardless of diagnosis.

 

[jjenny]

To all of DCF defenders-MA DCF has a lot of problems. This article mentions Justina's case in the end. While DCF is engaging in "controversial and seemingly unnecessary custody battle" over Justina, many other children entering DCF custody don't even get a medical exam within the time required by law. What is the reason DCF latched onto Justina?

"An audit of the state Department of Children and Families released Wednesday by state Auditor Suzanne M. Bump leaves no doubt that the agency's problems are systemic in nature, of long standing, and a serious threat to the welfare of children and families in Massachusetts."


http://www.telegram.com/article/20140330/NEWS/303309961/1020

 

[Linda7NJ]

To all of DCF defenders-MA DCF has a lot of problems. This article mentions Justina's case in the end. While DCF is engaging in "controversial and seemingly unnecessary custody battle" over Justina, many other children entering DCF custody don't even get a medical exam within the time required by law. What is the reason DCF latched onto Justina?



"An audit of the state Department of Children and Families released Wednesday by state Auditor Suzanne M. Bump leaves no doubt that the agency's problems are systemic in nature, of long standing, and a serious threat to the welfare of children and families in Massachusetts."





http://www.telegram.com/article/20140330/NEWS/303309961/1020

The same can be said across the board in every states child protection agency. IMO


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[Donjeta]

The audit report is certainly a cause for worry but it doesn't really say much about whether DCF intervention was warranted in any individual case.

 

[jjenny]

The audit report is certainly a cause for worry but it doesn't really say much about whether DCF intervention was warranted in any individual case.

Why makes DCF intervention warranted in this case? Parents have a right under the law to decide which doctor to believe in case of medical conflict.
So how does DCF justifies removing the child because parents wanted to treat her for mitochondrial disease instead of somatoform?
There are plenty of other cases where children are actually abused that DCF should be instead concentrating on.
This child was removed from parents, placed into a psychiatric ward. She wants to go to school. Is she getting any education at all?
Child looks very bad after all the treatment for the supposed somatoform, I might add.
Why isn't she with her parents?

 

[Donjeta]

Well, we really have no way of knowing, imo. We are not privy to what evidence the DCF side has, if any, most of what we know is what the parents have told us, and it's just their half of it. The judge knows both sides and somehow he found reason to withhold custody from the parents for the time being. We know that the parents disagree with the decision but there could be lots that the parents aren't telling us.

It could be the DCF are completely wrong here but even if they were right, the parents would still be expected to tell us that they're in the wrong.

 

[txsvicki]

Has any more been said about the reason for the tegretol and heart medications that Justina was taking? I wonder if they found nothing wrong with her heart.

 

[jjenny]

Has any more been said about the reason for the tegretol and heart medications that Justina was taking? I wonder if they found nothing wrong with her heart.

She had rapid heart rate from what her family said. Apparently mitochondrial disease involves multiple organs including the heart. It's important to remember that all Justina's were prescribed by the doctors, it's not like parents were getting them off the internet. Over a year away from her parents she looks very sick. She certainly doesn't appear to be improved. Which one would expect if parents were overmedicating her or treating her for something she didn't need. Sounds like Children's doctors expected they would wean her off her meds, she will get all better. But opposite appears to have happened. It doesn't appear she got any better.
So I don't believe Children's diagnosed her properly.

 

[mikeysmommom]

CT DCF not getting involved is very telling for me. This family has other children, if they abused the one in the hospital why is there no investigation in CT? What about the other children? If these people are abusers and if DCF had real proof like the judges decision would lead you to believe, why aren't they investigating the home and other children? This is and should be very scary for every parent. This is abuse of power and the more we stay silent and do nothing the worse it will be for everyone. WAKE UP .