IL- Mother accused of hiding 14-year old's diabetes DX- leading to her death: Alton

[meanmaryjean]

Alton mom accused of hiding teen’s diabetes diagnosis, leading to her death

This just makes me sick. Years ago, I was involved in a similar case where a 'parent' treated her child's leukemia with essential oils- same outcome.

 

[dalsglen]

Can't read the article due to EU rules but wth? Just why?

 

[dalsglen]

Found a dm link which is EU friendly. Lots of selfies with the daughter, why didn't she care enough to manage her diabetes? Article also mentions dad, was he not aware?

Mother charged with involuntary manslaughter for daughter's death after concealing girl's diabetes | Daily Mail Online

 

[meanmaryjean]

So much additional detail in the Mail link- thank you. Makes it even more heinous.

 

[Gardenista]

According to this, mom hid this from family and friends--dad didn't know. She also had a sister who died

Mother accused of hiding daughter’s diabetes diagnosis, allowing her to die

 

[meanmaryjean]

According to this, mom hid this from family and friends--dad didn't know. She also had a sister who died

Mother accused of hiding daughter’s diabetes diagnosis, allowing her to die

I hope LE is taking a long, hard look at the sibling's death. Ugh

 

[phantomthief]

No offense, but people akin to her shouldn't be allowed to have kids.

 

[Darling136]

Sorry but she tortured her child into death?! Cant get this in my head, how could she ignore all the diagnosis and no one suspected this...

 

[IceIce9]

When her three follow up appointments were missed, did the clinic not follow up?

I’ve worked in healthcare for over 20 years and if a pediatric patient missed even one follow up appointment we would have contacted the parent or guardian. If we couldn’t get in contact with the parent, or if further appointments were missed it would have been reported to a social worker or children’s services.

 

[meanmaryjean]

When her three follow up appointments were missed, did the clinic not follow up?

I’ve worked in healthcare for over 20 years and if a pediatric patient missed even one follow up appointment we would have contacted the parent or guardian. If we couldn’t get in contact with the parent, or if further appointments were missed it would have been reported to a social worker or children’s services.

I'll tell you exactly how it is done (from the case I mentioned):

• Mom falsifies MD stationary and indicates that they are changing doctors.
• Mom flat-out lies to all of the follow up calls and indicates that the kid is in school, doing well and they are doing well with new medical provider.

I would bet real money that the blame falls not on the previous provider or CPS- who did their due diligence to the extent of the law - but solely and squarely on the mother. Period.

 

[IceIce9]

I'll tell you exactly how it is done (from the case I mentioned):

• Mom falsifies MD stationary and indicates that they are changing doctors.
• Mom flat-out lies to all of the follow up calls and indicates that the kid is in school, doing well and they are doing well with new medical provider.

I would bet real money that the blame falls not on the previous provider or CPS- who did their due diligence to the extent of the law - but solely and squarely on the mother. Period.

Of course the ultimate blame lies on the mom.

However, the clinics and hospitals where I have worked would have followed up if a parent had stated a child was changing physicians or clinics.

We would have contacted the new provider and forwarded the records or information we had to the new provider.

Then we would have documented the exchange of records and the confirmation that the new provider has accepted care of the patient. It’s called continuity of care.

This type of careful follow up documentation would be done whether the patient was an adult or minor child.

While the mother is to blame, I would hope that the physician would have followed up and documented after three appointments were missed.

 

[Inthedetails]

Of course the ultimate blame lies on the mom.

However, the clinics and hospitals where I have worked would have followed up if a parent had stated a child was changing physicians or clinics.

We would have contacted the new provider and forwarded the records or information we had to the new provider.

Then we would have documented the exchange of records and the confirmation that the new provider has accepted care of the patient. It’s called continuity of care.

This type of careful follow up documentation would be done whether the patient was an adult or minor child.

While the mother is to blame, I would hope that the physician would have followed up and documented after three appointments were missed.

I cannot understand the mother's actions here. I don't get it.

But, I do see how she could get away with it. I've never had a doctor follow-up with a missed appointment, even when serious, with one wonderful exception of my mom's last doctor (who was a gem at the end of my mom's life). Even when I or my family members had some serious stuff going on, I never felt like the doctor's offices noticed us until we were actually in the office and they opened our charts.

I love hearing that some clinics and offices are more attentive!! I just haven't experienced it and I can see how easy it could be to just slip away.

Very tragic to lose someone so young, when treatment of diabetes is very well understood.

Why?!?

jmo

 

[IceIce9]

I cannot understand the mother's actions here. I don't get it.

But, I do see how she could get away with it. I've never had a doctor follow-up with a missed appointment, even when serious, with one wonderful exception of my mom's last doctor (who was a gem at the end of my mom's life). Even when I or my family members had some serious stuff going on, I never felt like the doctor's offices noticed us until we were actually in the office and they opened our charts.

I love hearing that some clinics and offices are more attentive!! I just haven't experienced it and I can see how easy it could be to just slip away.

Very tragic to lose someone so young, when treatment of diabetes is very well understood.

Why?!?

jmo

It is very tragic. I don’t understand why the mother would have prevented her from receiving treatment.

I’m surprised that some clinics and physicians don’t follow up with patients who have failed to return for appointments. I’m talking about appointments for conditions or illnesses, not just routine wellness appointments.

Clinics and providers can and are held liable when patients have untreated conditions or illnesses. And even if one of our physicians dismisses a patient from his or her practice (for example, many clinics have a 3 strike rule for “no show” appointments) we send a certified letter to the patient first. The letter explains why we are dismissing the patient, gives the patient 30 days where we will see the patient while the patient transfers to a new provider, and offers assistance in finding another provider for the patient.

 

[mickey2942]

I work with a lot of adults who are in denial of their own health issues. Diabetes is one of them. They continue to eat unhealthy, ignore blood sugar levels.

Sadly, I also worked with young adults who ate "bad food" as part of teenage rebellion. I understand it. Dealing with diabetes is a complicated balance.

I don't know what to think about this Mother.

 

[IceIce9]

I work with a lot of adults who are in denial of their own health issues. Diabetes is one of them. They continue to eat unhealthy, ignore blood sugar levels.

Sadly, I also worked with young adults who ate "bad food" as part of teenage rebellion. I understand it. Dealing with diabetes is a complicated balance.

I don't know what to think about this Mother.

The mother failed to keep medical appointments for her minor child, and did not fill prescriptions for her. That is negligent behavior at minimum.

 

[mickey2942]

The mother failed to keep medical appointments for her minor child, and did not fill prescriptions for her. That is negligent behavior at minimum.

As I said, "I don't know what to think about the Mother". We don't know if they had health insurance, if the Mother had to work, she may have been overwhelmed. And if this is the case, she does merit punishment, but also education and maybe see if other women have the same problems. Maybe CPS should have been involved.

 

[Lilibet]

I hope LE is taking a long, hard look at the sibling's death. Ugh

Yes, I’m sure they are. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the sister died for the same reason. As you know, diabetes can be very difficult to control and a lot of work for parents who have to make sure the child is eating right and using insulin properly. Some parents may not want to bother, especially if the child (being a child) doesn’t want to cooperate. There’s another thread on WS about a step-mom worried about her diabetic stepson because his father and mother aren’t willing to try to keep him on track. It’s a challenge, but it’s a life and death matter.

 

[meanmaryjean]

Yes, I’m sure they are. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the sister died for the same reason. As you know, diabetes can be very difficult to control and a lot of work for parents who have to make sure the child is eating right and using insulin properly. Some parents may not want to bother, especially if the child (being a child) doesn’t want to cooperate. There’s another thread on WS about a step-mom worried about her diabetic stepson because his father and mother aren’t willing to try to keep him on track. It’s a challenge, but it’s a life and death matter.

As a Peds ICU nurse and grandmother of a teen with Type 1 - this case hits me particularly hard. Senseless.

 

[Lilibet]

As a Peds ICU nurse and grandmother of a teen with Type 1 - this case hits me particularly hard. Senseless.

I’m so sorry!

 

[Hills88]

Definitely the mums fault completely. But I do wonder how the hospital/ specialist allow her to miss multiple appointment. I have a child with major health issues and we see over 12 different specialists. If I miss one, we are getting calls urging us to come in.