Assuming that the couple is telling the truth. Remember, CPS is is prohibited from saying why they took the kids, so we have to go off of the word of the parents, who aren’t exactly the most trustworthy sources. The doctors note saying the kid would be fine at home seems to suggest that CPS acted improperly, but I don’t think we can say anything definitively.
Somebody at the first hospital told CPS that the child was in danger because he was removed from the hospital or because they suspected some type of abuse by the parents. The latter cannot be true because if that was the case they should have notified CPS earlier. Since another doctor had seen the child and said there was no risk in letting him go home, CPS is out of bounds in this action.
Yes, things have changed. Enforcement also varies, by hospital and by physician. And, of course, there’s “well, we’d really like to keep her for one more day of observation, so we’re not going to discharge her,” and then there’s, “are you crazy, she won’t likely survive an ambulance ride across town!” Not every AMA is equal or equally worthy of intervention.
Please note, I know nothing of this case and am not passing judgement on it. I’m inclined to be on the “there’s more to the story and CPS can’t talk about it,” camp. But really, I’m just addressing the larger “take 'em out AMA” suggestion. By and large, you can’t, and most people don’t know that. I think that’s an important thing to know when you’re deciding to take your kid to the hospital. At that point, you’re handing over the decision making to the guy in the labcoat. Informed consent is a very different kettle of fish in Pediatrics than in regular medicine.
What’s the reason for this? Seems to be something of an invitation to overreach: if you aren’t allowed to state a reason, you don’t really need a compelling one.
It’s easy to believe that the reason here might include “We didn’t want to be later accused of not having done enough - better to overreact ‘in the interests of the child’.” Which translates as “Parents that come under suspicion are guilty until proven innocent.”
It seems like we have one of these threads every other month or so, and in the end, when all the facts come out, it always turns out CPS had a valid reason to be concerned. I have no reason to doubt it will be the same this time.
This one sounds different. Maybe it won’t be, news reports can’t be trusted, but on it’s face this sounds like a hospital and CPS crossing the line. As I stated already, if there were any problem other than removing the child from one hospital to take it to another then CPS should have been notified when the child was first brought in. So there could be some facts still unknown, but based on what is known, there’s no justification for this.
Because of privacy laws. Government officials, and agencies acting under the authority of statutes, are normally prohibited from making public the private information about the individuals with whom they come into contact.
That isn’t to say they’re not accountable. Accountability comes through the courts, where the entire story is presented, both pro and con, and also through supervision by other government agencies.
But, citizens generally have a statutory right to have their personal information kept private.
It’s true that based on what we know now it seems like this is unjustified. If the facts continue to bear that out, and the parents don’t get their kid back quickly, I will join in the outrage. But again, this is a story we’ve heard before. They all sound bad at first; that’s why they make the news! So I’m going to withhold judgment for a bit.
The couple is getting attention in Russia too. They appeared on a Russian show Russia Today and it’s getting covered in Germany. The Russian couple is even getting some support from the Russian consulate.
None of that really helps. It’s up to a judge and CPS right now.
The video explains an agreement thats been worked out. The child is getting transferred to Stanford Medical Center. CPS is withdrawing the petition for detainment. But they will be monitoring the case. Couple has to agree to CPS home visits etc.
It wasn’t physical abuse. The couple had done nothing wrong until they removed the child from the hospital. That’s now apparently considered abuse in todays society. :dubious:
From whats been reported it sounds like the baby has a heart murmur that requires surgery. How urgent that surgery is in dispute. Hospital #2 felt that the baby could go home. Presumably while the couple consulted other doctors. Hospital #1 said no, lets operate now and the heck with second opinions.
I wasn’t making up anything. That news video explains that the judge, CPS and the family agreed to transfer the baby to Stanford. CPS is returning control of the baby to the parents with CPS oversight.
If there was any other home issues then CPS wouldn’t have agreed to this resolution. It’s probably the best possible outcome that the family could get.
Perhaps you missed WhyNot’s explanation, so I’ll copy it below. Apparently removing a child from a hospital against medical advice may or may not be child abuse, but it does trigger a report to CPS in some places.
I saw that earlier. It’s something any new parent needs to be aware of when they take a kid to the hospital. It’s rare anyway to remove a child from a hospital unless there’s concerns about the medical care they are receiving. Even then in todays world a parent better act very carefully and get the child transferred to another facility. Don’t take the kid from the hospital against orders.
It wasn’t like that when I grew up in the 70’s. But the Nanny state is getting stronger every year.
I don’t, and it looks like it turns out that was the only reason, and once it was found that the child was taken to another doctor who said he could return home CPS should have stepped down. And if they are continuing to be involved in this then they are overstepping their bounds.
Check the Pit thread where a couple who believed on faith-healing got off on probation for letting one kid die by relying on prayer instead of going to a doctor, and now another one of their kids is dead - because they violated the terms of their probation by not seeking medical attention. Requirements like this are in place partially because of assholes like that.
I used to work in a pediatric cardiology office, and every now and then I’d have to write a politely-worded letter to the effect of, “your kid has a fucking serious condition that requires follow-up, and you’ve missed a ton of appointments - get your kid seen or we might have to call CPS.” And you’d be surprised about how unconcerned parents can be about their kids’ health. One of our doctors was pleading over the phone with a parent to get their blue-in-the-face infant to the ER on a particular Thursday rather than go to a relative’s kid’s grade school graduation. After being examined, they’d planned on heart surgery that Monday, but the baby dramatically worsened over the weekend and they did surgery then.
It’s a balance between “OMG Nanny State telling you how to raise your kids” and “OMG those doctors should have DONE something!”
I wasn’t making up anything. That news video explains that the judge, CPS and the family agreed to transfer the baby to Stanford. CPS is returning control of the baby to the parents with CPS oversight.