In early March, Judge Johnson put Justina Pelletier's medical care back with Dr. Korman/Tufts

[MADem]

72. Please take a look at the Children's Hospital link at post 69, and my comments as well.

Children's isn't going to violate their patient privacy laws, first, and they DO treat mitochondrial disease, second...so we have to wonder if there's not something else going on, here. We are only hearing one side of the story, and it's being slanted to paint everyone in opposition as mendacious. It's also falsely suggesting that Children's does not "believe" in mitochondrial disease, which begs the question "Why do they have an entire mitochondrial department, with subspecialty divisions, to treat a disease they don't 'believe' exists?"

The fact that the Pelletiers were investigated for child abuse in CT (no charges, were proffered as a consequence) may have influenced the judge to err on the side of the child's safety. And why isn't CT leaping to the defense of their citizen, and stopping "evil" Massachusetts from kidnapping one of their own, even as the MA judge pleaded with them to take a role in the case? Instead, they're letting MA do the heavy lifting--so what the hell do they know, or think they know?

Connecticut DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt released the following statement to Connecticut’s Newsroom Tuesday:
“The Connecticut Department of Children and Families will continue our efforts to support the family and arrange for any services recommended by professionals involved with Justina and her family. This matter remains under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and we will continue to assist Massachusetts as well as the family.”
Massachusetts DCF spokeswoman Mary-Leah Assad, released the following statmement to Fox CT Tuesday:
“DCF’s primary goal has always been the health and wellbeing of Justina, and finding a solution that would allow her to return to Connecticut. That has not changed in the face of this ruling. The Department is exploring all options that will allow Justina to return to her home state where she has the support of her friends, family, school and community.”


Read more: http://foxct.com/local-news/investigations/stories/hospital-holds-west-hartford-girl-for-9-months/#ixzz2xLKEdPCD

And, I've got to say, "advocates" who are issuing "threats" against child protective services and who have suggested they would kidnap the child aren't helping this situation one bit--it's sounding more and more like this child was rescued from Crazy Town--and if that's not the case, then those parents would be well advised to urge their followers to "stand down" and not make it appear that way:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/03/28/state-police-investigating-threats-against-agency-involved-with-justina-pelletier/3XP4MUfNzn2lfViTflAU9O/story.html

The Massachusetts State Police have assigned
investigators to look into several threats that have been
made against staff from the state’s child-protection agency
by people who are angry at its handling of the custody
controversy surrounding 15-year-old Justina Pelletier.
David Procopio, spokesman for the State Police,
confirmed Friday that the Department of Children and
Families has given them about a dozen threatening
communications to staff, which came through e-mail,
telephone, social media, fax, or comments on news stories...He also
acknowledged that state
troopers helped escort Pelletier to her weekly visit with
her parents Friday. That was done, said someone with
close knowledge of the visit, after an individual contacted
the transportation company that drives Justina to her
weekly visit and threatened to kidnap her along the route.

....The threats have not been confined to DCF staff. In one
online communication sent in the past week, a group
listed the home address of Juvenile Judge Joseph
Johnston and one of the physicians involved in the case,
although it mostly urged people to write or call them. The
group also said that the agency should know that “failure
to comply will result in retaliation which you will not be
able to withstand. Free Justina and return her home to
her family.”

The Boston Globe did a very good two-part series on this matter a while back that takes a look at both sides of this imbroglio. It doesn't come to any conclusions, necessarily, but it gives one a flavor of the issues. Here are the links if anyone's interested in getting a bit more "in-depth" on the topic:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/15/justina/vnwzbbNdiodSD7WDTh6xZI/story.html

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/16/month-medical-ordeal-conclusion-still-uncertain/Y7qvYTGsq8QklkxUZvuUgP/story.html

Like I've said before and continue to say, I can't say that the parents are getting the shaft, or the hospital is correct in its diagnosis. The privacy of the patient obscures a LOT. All I know is that the Tufts doctor testified before the juvenile judge, as did Justina, and the result is that she's been handed over to the care of child services. What conclusions people can draw from that could have as much to do about how people feel about issues of parental authority or government oversight re: medical/social programs as anything actually to do with this patient (and our knowledge on that score is limited).