GUILTY MA - Rebecca Riley, 4, dies of drug OD, Hull, 13 Dec 2006

[angelmom]

That list is just - odd. Those can be signs of many problems - some as simple as dehydration and feeding problems!

I agree, although I assume they mean that these things are chronic and that other possible causes have been ruled out.

I think it is bizarre to label a baby with ADD, but I also know that things my parents and grandparents think are bizarre are perfectly normal to me. (Including car seats and abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes while pregnant, breast feeding, not breast feeding, co sleeping, not co sleeping, and more.) Maybe I am showing my age. :snooty:

 

[angelmom]

http://www.comcast.net/news/nationa.../2007/03/27/620842.html&cvqh=itn_girloverdose

BROCKTON, Mass. - Parents accused of killing their 4-year-old daughter with an overdose of prescription drugs had concocted symptoms of mental illnesses to in a bid to qualify the girl for government benefits, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Michael and Carolyn Riley pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges Tuesday and were ordered to remain in custody without bail.

The Rileys' applications for Supplemental Security Income for their daughter, Rebecca, were twice rejected after government doctors examined her and found no evidence to back the parents' claims of bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, Assistant District Attorney Frank Middleton said.



much more at link

 

[Amraann]

http://www.comcast.net/news/nationa.../2007/03/27/620842.html&cvqh=itn_girloverdose

BROCKTON, Mass. - Parents accused of killing their 4-year-old daughter with an overdose of prescription drugs had concocted symptoms of mental illnesses to in a bid to qualify the girl for government benefits, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Michael and Carolyn Riley pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges Tuesday and were ordered to remain in custody without bail.

The Rileys' applications for Supplemental Security Income for their daughter, Rebecca, were twice rejected after government doctors examined her and found no evidence to back the parents' claims of bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, Assistant District Attorney Frank Middleton said.



much more at link

Having SSI denied is in no way indicative of the child not having a disorder.
A Dr did obviously diagnois this child and prescribed her medication. IMO he is the one who needs to prosecuted.

A Bi-Polar 2 yo?? Find me a calm two year old IMO that is the one who maybe needs help.

 

[Boyz_Mum]

http://www.comcast.net/news/nationa.../2007/03/27/620842.html&cvqh=itn_girloverdose

BROCKTON, Mass. - Parents accused of killing their 4-year-old daughter with an overdose of prescription drugs had concocted symptoms of mental illnesses to in a bid to qualify the girl for government benefits, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Michael and Carolyn Riley pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges Tuesday and were ordered to remain in custody without bail.

The Rileys' applications for Supplemental Security Income for their daughter, Rebecca, were twice rejected after government doctors examined her and found no evidence to back the parents' claims of bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, Assistant District Attorney Frank Middleton said.



much more at link

Would it be considered "Munchausens by proxy" in a case like this? With the parents deliberately giving the child symptoms?

I am trying to understand if the government doctors couldn't find a basis for the diagnosis, was the "family doctor" just taking their word for all of this?

Sorry for the questions, this case just makes me sick.

 

[pedinurse]

Would it be considered "Munchausens by proxy" in a case like this? With the parents deliberately giving the child symptoms?

I am trying to understand if the government doctors couldn't find a basis for the diagnosis, was the "family doctor" just taking their word for all of this?

Sorry for the questions, this case just makes me sick.

I'm so not surprised. I think it sure sounds like a case of munchausen's. I have heard of wayyy too many families trying to get SSI for their kids who they say have issues but they really don't. the two parents in this case were on disability and probably wanted to supplement their income by getting their daughter diagnosed as well.
what are the chances that BOTH of them are disabled for real? at those ages? whatever. (just my personal opinion).

 

[angelmom]

I think Munchausen's Syndrome is more about getting attention. Often the parents are very loving and doting parents - except for the part about making their kids sick! That is why it is so hard for people who know them to believe.

These people seemed more interested in getting a check and keeping the kids quiet. :furious:

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/munchausen.html
"Because the parent or caregiver appears to be so caring and attentive, often no one suspects any wrongdoing. A perplexing aspect of the syndrome is the ability of the parent or caregiver to fool and manipulate doctors."

 

[pedinurse]

I think Munchausen's Syndrome is more about getting attention. Often the parents are very loving and doting parents - except for the part about making their kids sick! That is why it is so hard for people who know them to believe.

These people seemed more interested in getting a check and keeping the kids quiet. :furious:

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/munchausen.html
"Because the parent or caregiver appears to be so caring and attentive, often no one suspects any wrongdoing. A perplexing aspect of the syndrome is the ability of the parent or caregiver to fool and manipulate doctors."

what sucks about that is that the SSI benefits for children with disabilities are a HUGE help to those that need it. those who get it that don't need it cause there to be less available overall benefits for those who do. its like pulling teeth for those parents who do have disabled children to get it - and then the ones who aren't really disabled (IE - faking mental retardation) are getting it left and right. makes me angry!

 

[Boyz_Mum]

It's very sad to think that this scenerio could be played out in many homes accross the country- just for a little supplemental income? It's almost the same as some of the foster care stories I've read. (People taking in special needs children all for the sake of a payout.) I am mad as heck!

I guess I will still wonder if in a case like Rebecca's, if it will fit into a Munchausen's category because these parents were seeking a benefit in making their child ill, it wasn't attention but the money. (I am not making an excuse for these people involved, but wonder more where the responsibility of the crime will be dumped- because everyone involved with the situation "dropped the ball" in my opinion...)

 

[MeoW333]

The psychiatrist needs to be looked at very closely here. It is there job to make sure their patients are not a danger to themselves or others. If they are, then an intervention or possible institutionalization is necessary. First off any doctor with morals would not be prescribing psychiatric meds to babies this young of age. The side effects long and short term aren't known yet and it's a potential risk. The parents were obviously unfit to be in the presence of any children; with the father having a previous molestation charge on a stepdaughter. The doctor should have called DSS right away and had the children removed from that home.
In many cases doctors' are offered "pay-offs" by medication co.'s to prescribe out as much as they can. This case crossed the line by far. What i don't understand is why these parents weren't in some kind of home or treatment program themselves. If the patients are unable to take their medications responsibly then they would likely have a case worker to check up on them or, more likely been placed in an adult residence given their histories. This is a heartbreaking story, everyone around this poor child ignored warning signs. It all could have been prevented if these parent's weren't given medication for the child and this psychiatrist followed his duties properly.

 

[sherri79]

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May18/0,4670,DruggedtoDeath,00.html

 

[SewingDeb]

Defense to target M.E.: Riley lawyer to question autopsy in 4-year-old’s OD death

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=1012195

 

[kato]

Lovely couple! not

Hey, rich. Beautiful dog.

 

[sherri79]

State officials want Michael and Carolyn Riley, the couple accused of murdering their 4-year-old daughter in Hull, to give up their remaining two children for adoption.

Department of Social Services social workers have formally asked the couple to agree to adoption for the couple’s surviving children, a 12-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, Carolyn’s mother, Valerie Berio, said yesterday.
Department spokeswoman Denise Monteiro said the agency has proposed to the Rileys a “service plan with a goal of permanency for the children” but declined to give specifics. The department sent copies of the plan to the couple in jail and asked them to sign it, she said. Employees also visited Carolyn Riley in jail, Monteiro said.

Berio said both refused to sign.
http://www.southofboston.net/specialreports/rebecca/pages/051707-adopt.asp​

 

[Bobbisangel]

They WANT them to give the kids up for adoption!!!!! I think there is such a thing as parents like these not having a choice in giving up their kids. Why don't the courts step in and not give them a choice?

 

[sherri79]

If the Rileys don’t agree to free their children for adoption, the state can ask a judge to terminate their parental rights.

from the link above. i'm sure another year sitting in foster care wont hurt these kids... /sarcasm off.

 

[meowy]

I don't understand how a kid that young can be diagnosed like that. I don't have any kids, but I've seen my neighbor's kids playing.. they surely aren't ADD or bipolar, they're kids. Loud, wound up, laughing then crying, kids. Sounds like they wanted zombies for kids

 

[sherri79]

I don't understand how a kid that young can be diagnosed like that. I don't have any kids, but I've seen my neighbor's kids playing.. they surely aren't ADD or bipolar, they're kids. Loud, wound up, laughing then crying, kids. Sounds like they wanted zombies for kids

my son has adhd. the school asked that i have him tested when he was almost 5. my doctor said he was to young at that age to really say if he had it. no way could you say it at 2 imo.

 

[AmandaBrown23]

My son was 6 before he was diagnosed. I cant believe they put a 2 year old on that but I do have a friend who had her son put on meds for it. I cant see putting my little girl on it and she is something else let me tell you hahaha.

 

[sherri79]

it is bad enough they got a doctor to give this baby such strong meds but then they gave her much much more than they should have.

But the lead prosecutor in the case, Plymouth County First Assistant District Attorney Frank Middleton, said Carolyn Riley received 94 more clonidine pills than she was supposed to during that four-month period.

http://www.southofboston.net/specialreports/rebecca/pages/030707-pills.asp we also must remember that doctors in cases like this depend on the parents to give them details on how the child acts. if a parent lies in hopes of getting the child on disability it can lead to a over medicated child.

 

[NewMom2003]

""Little Rebecca Jeanne Riley allegedly drowned Dec. 13 in her own bodily fluids over a period of more than four days as her parents repeatedly shrugged off the urging of relatives to take the drugged, dying girl to the emergency room, authorities said. Instead, the girl was coughing, “gurgling, gagging and short of breath” until she died lying on a pile of clothes on the floor, Middleton alleged""

In my opinion the relatives should be charged too.

GAWD, this makes me so furious. :furious: :furious:

Why didn't someone do something???? :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: I mean even if a relative had called the police or an ambulance and the parents refused to let them help, couldn't the police or paramedics just stepped in to help this poor child?