tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post7182385963289302197..comments2023-06-16T09:39:07.504-04:00Comments on Harpocrates Speaks: Justina Pelletier to Remain in Massachusetts DCF CustodyTodd W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16192694127268195554noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-28015431708492924972014-07-29T15:20:08.415-04:002014-07-29T15:20:08.415-04:00HarpocratesSpeaks appears to be by far the best an...HarpocratesSpeaks appears to be by far the best analysis of what is publicly known about this confusing case. Thank you.MotherVoltairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00433137017220041427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-22654082807584504962014-04-23T17:59:29.111-04:002014-04-23T17:59:29.111-04:00I’m a bit disturbed by some of the comments here, ...I’m a bit disturbed by some of the comments here, Let me respond to some of these:<br />1. HB says that “My own view is - the parents are disgusting….” This attempt at character assassination in defense of BCH will not hold up in view of the massive public scrutiny of the parents and family by the press for over a year. Few families would survive this level of examination. The father is becoming effective and respected advocate for other child victims of institutional abuse. The older sister, also a Mitro patient is a very effective advocate for her sister.<br />2. HB claims we are only hearing one side of the story because of HCFA Privacy laws. Actually a lot of the “other” side is already known and fully documented in many articles including this one: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/16/month-medical-ordeal-conclusion-still-uncertain/Y7qvYTGsq8QklkxUZvuUgP/story.html In any case Justina and her parents would almost certainly waive privacy in this situation in order to gain public support. On the other hand BCH/DCF are concerned about their massive liability in the upcoming lawsuit and/or criminal investigation and are interested in covering up whatever they can.<br />3. HB criticizes the objective criterion used to establish the working diagnosis of Mitro at Tufts, but fails to mention the diagnosis of “Somatoform Disorder” imposed by BCH and used to justify the original court order granting custody of Justina to the state and DCF. Somataform Disorder is a subjective and controversial diagnosis that has now been discredited.<br />4. Justina’s placement in the Bader 5 psychiatric ward is highly suspect. BCH is a research hospital dependent on hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants and drug company clinical trials. The BCH policy for IDE informed consent has a convenient exemption for children who are “wards of the state”. Thus the process of removal of a child from parental custody provides them with a ideal “informed-consent-free” human subject for clinical research using experimental psychotic drugs. Others have noted that the symptoms of Justina’s declining health after Bader 5 confinement are consistent with known side effects of such human experimentation.<br />5. This exemption from normal protections against human medical experimentation for profit is invoked for some 400 unfortunate children per year at Boston Childrens. This constitutes a disturbing institutional system with a high potential for abuse that is practiced at BCH routinely. <br />6. In this specific case of Justina, there is already a lot of documentation collected, in spite of the BCH/DCF attempts at cover-up. The pending lawsuit (and/or criminal investigation) could evolve into a class action covering dozens of other child victims. Those folks (nurses, administrators) working at either institution with direct knowledge of the situation should be advised to keep thorough contemporaneous notes of their observations, and also to collect and preserve any documentation they can. This will not only provide a degree of protection for the witnesses but will also provide an ability for those with a conscious to “do the right thing” when the time comes.<br /> JL<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-54634650926456261112014-03-30T00:21:51.385-04:002014-03-30T00:21:51.385-04:00Also, I get the impression that DCF wanted to keep...Also, I get the impression that DCF wanted to keep control of Justina away from the parents and thus were not willing to comply with the family's wishes from the get go. From the get-go, the Pelletier's have been lying and harrassing and borderline abusive to anyone and everyone who did not do things their way. So, that is my guess why DCF did not transfer Justina. The parents showed not even an attempt to change their ways so why bother?<br />Now, they could have been compelled into parenting education courses, as many parents are when their child is taken from them. They could have been compelled into anger management courses. Why this was not done is a mystery. Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13265968595848523357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-23412104864283558252014-03-30T00:13:24.916-04:002014-03-30T00:13:24.916-04:00I appreciate your writing about this HP. I have b...I appreciate your writing about this HP. I have been following it and the more I read, especially on the Right Wing Watch website, the more I am just completely convinced the parents are liars and were abusing Justina. The state is doing the right thing by keeping her. <br /><br />What I don't understand is why there is not a group, that I can find, for supporting the state's efforts and BCH's. There are borderline terrorist activities against the state, the judges, the hospital and more but nothing in support? Do you know of anything? Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13265968595848523357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-79931763370992804622014-03-29T19:30:22.692-04:002014-03-29T19:30:22.692-04:00I think I can explain a bit of this to you, Katee ...I think I can explain a bit of this to you, Katee - not having been there, but knowing the medical system thoroughly for 40 years or so. <br /><br />1. there is a great misinformation/lie/call-it-whatever that the Pelletiers are perpetuating. and the gagged MDs cannot reply to. They claim "they were coming to BCH to see Dr. Flores upon the advise of Dr. Korson" - that is just baloney. Dr. Korson could have recommended that they see Dr. Flores at BCH - in his clinic, during office hours, at his next urgent slot. Showing up by ambulance during a snowstorm at night and demanding to see a Dr. Flores (safe in his bed in Framingham or Brookline, who knows) - is obnoxious. Dr. korson could not have sponsored this. So, either the Pelletiers are naive - they are not - or they are lying.<br /><br />The girl was in a bad state, the parents thought. They chose to take her not to Yale New haven or to their local excellent CT hospitals - because, I guess, they are well-known there. in a bad way - as doctor-shoppers, as potential munch-by-proxy parents. And because there is a case against them in CT court. So, why not go to Boston this time, and claim Dr. Korson told them to!<br /><br />2. Once they are at the BCH ED, the case belongs to the ED attending, who decides what next. Two things strike me - the girl WAS admitted, which means that the ED doc in charge thought something was wrong with her. ED docs do not like to admit unless necessary. Second - she was admitted to Neurology (my specialty), not to Medicine, and I know 100% that she would have been cleared by ED or medicine to be medically intact - then they call us because they have symptoms that are not explained by findings. They would have loved to call Psych, but Psych does not admit those cases emergently, only those that are hurting themselves or others, acutely psychotic, suicidal. So they call Neuro.<br /><br />3. Neuro docs there are already biased towards 'mito". You see, mitochondrial disease is a NEUROLOGICAL diagnosis usually, and the diagnosis is made using bipsy with light and electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, neuroradiology, bloodwork, genetic analysis, and physical exam and symptoms. Diagnosing 'mito" based on symptoms alone, ad Dr. korson was purported to practice - is similar to using an 8-ball, magic, augury, mice. It is not accepted by the medical community. it is .. sorry, wrong. It is like diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) by symptoms alone without a radiological confirmation, except worse. Much worse!<br /><br />4. Now we have doctors, not terribly good at people relations - the guy in charge was a european, actually, a dutch guy I think - who engage in a conflict against parents, and call risk management and the child protection specialist right away, and anger the parents by voicing out loud what they are sure of - the child has no "mito". I really blame the doctors here. They messed up. They should have handled it differently. I had seen similar situations handled very well. <br /><br />5. So why not transfer - at this point, the BCH was in a standoff with the parents, and accusing the parents of abuse. To do what the parents wanted - transfer care to Tufts - would be the right thing to do, but... they lost control of the situation, which was now under the DCF - and why did DCF not order transfer is obvious - they were not into doing what the parents wanted. This simple. A mistake. A transfer and subsequent DCF investigation at Tufts would have avoided most of the mess....<br /><br />6. The Tufts guy, Korson, did not speak up for ?? possible multiple reasons - first, he is controversial, and I would say to his face that if he diagnoses "mito" by symptoms -- he is a bit of a quack. A lot of a quack. Second, the parents may be lying 9again) about their relationships and conversation with him. he may have grown tired of them and afraid of them and suspicious of them just like their previous physicians had, and trying to distance himself and send them away.<br /><br />I hope I answered your questions.<br />HBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02198087278331915813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-21224258126509865082014-03-29T19:09:05.714-04:002014-03-29T19:09:05.714-04:00I got a link to your blog, and am amazed at your m...I got a link to your blog, and am amazed at your measured and informed articles. I will quote you and give links as well whenever this issue comes up again.<br /><br />My own view is - the parents are disgusting, and likely - THOUGH NOT PROVABLY - are munchausen-by-proxy parents, however the judge is wrong - the courts and DCF should have worked with the parents immediately, a year ago, and insure compliance with court-ordered treatment, for example, frequent home visits, SW presence etc. Taking the girl away like that I thought was completely unjustified, even given how revolting the actions of those parents are....HBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02198087278331915813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609683919099708226.post-13661779731598600762014-03-28T16:45:35.481-04:002014-03-28T16:45:35.481-04:00What still baffles me is why Children's didn&#...What still baffles me is why Children's didn't just send Justina back to Tuft's when the Pellitiers asked them to. The Pelletiers were angry and upset (presumably because they'd be accused of harming their kid) but DCF could just as easily have investigated a case of potential child abuse at Tufts as as at Children's.<br /><br />I'm also left to wonder why the Tufts doctor, the one who had referred Justina to the GI at Tufts, didn't speak up earlier on -- if only to say that the girl was his patient and he diagnosed with and was treating her for mito. <br /><br />Tufts is a highly regarded hospital, like Children's. Presumably hospitals and doctors regularly disagree about the diagnosis of any given patient. Getting a second opinion is NORMAL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com