In December 2012, Justina Pelletier was an active 15-year-old girl who would go ice skating, laughed and spent time with her family.
But just two months later, her family says their nightmare began. “It’s beyond any wildest nightmare that you could think of,” says Justina’s father, Lou Pelletier.
These cases aren't even isolated anymore, trampling on our rights as parents is becoming more prevalent and is really starting to worry me. “Weirdos” like you and I need to be especially on guard since we don't blindly follow “the system”. Whether we question doctors' advice, we choose not to give our kids every “required” vaccine, or we decide that homeschooling is best for our family, we're on the fringe. That's becoming a dangerous place to be, right here in America, in the land of the “free”.
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Her longtime West Hartford psychologist has also been following the case.
“It’s the most bizarre situation … I’ve ever been involved with,” says Dean Hokanson, the clinical psychologist who has worked with Justina the past five years.
Justina was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease a few years ago. It’s a genetic disorder that can cause loss of muscle coordination and weakness.
Despite that diagnosis she lived a normal life.
But last February, she also got the flu and was admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital to see her specialist.
Almost immediately, a different team of doctors delivered a different diagnosis, questioning the original diagnosis of mitochondrial disease.
“They came in, and they said we cannot take Justina out of the hospital. They called DCF,” says Linda Pelletier, Justina’s mother.
They said Justina had “somatoform disorder.”
In short, they were saying she suffered from a mental illness, not mitochondrial disease.
Her parents, Lou and Linda Pelletier, were escorted out of the hospital by security, and within four days, they lost custody of Justina.
In addition to working with Justina, Dean Hokanson also testified at one of the court proceedings.
“They were actually being accused of being too active in pursuing health care matters for their child,” says Hokanson.
“It is kidnapping,” says Lou Pelletier.
Watch the news clip:
Read the whole story here.
- Do you remember the Jacob Stieler case? That was another incident when the docs thought they knew best instead of his parents. By the way, I emailed with Jacob's Aunt recently and found out that he's doing great, thank the Lord! 🙂
- Read about how we came to our own vaccine decisions.
- Here I tell about how the crazy idea to homeschool came about!
- p.s. I'm sorry that this stupid video plays automatically, I tried to figure out how to stop that but couldn't. If anyone knows, please clue me in!
marci says
Update:
https://foxct.com/2014/02/26/justina-pelletier-not-being-transferred-to-foster-care-for-now-family-rep-says/
KitchenKop says
Thanks Marci, we must think alike because I just tonight posted that update here with my thoughts:
https://kellythekitchenkop.com/2014/02/major-update-and-hopeful-score-for-parental-rights-lawmakers-ask-dcf-to-release-justina-pelletier.html
Kelly
Commenter via Facebook says
If DCF is ever being called in, run, move to Mexico, whatever you can do. DCF will tell you that you do not have rights over your children – they do. Whatever they say goes, no matter what. My take on that is ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY. And that, in the absence of parental love, is highly dangerous.
Commenter via Facebook says
This country sucks
Commenter via Facebook says
HOly Crap! I LOVE when my student’s parents are involved in their goals and care and when my patients’ parents/families want to learn and be involved!
Commenter via Facebook says
This is just wrong and scary. 🙁 Those poor parents and that poor child. This just doesn’t seem like it should be legal!
Commenter via Facebook says
This is sad and frightening. I am glad my children are nearly grown up but worry for my grandkids.
Commenter via Facebook says
Please post the outcome of today’s hearing
Commenter via Facebook says
and go sign the petition for a parental rights amendment at https://www.parentalrights.org/
Commenter via Facebook says
What time is the court date?
Commenter via Facebook says
Scary.
Commenter via Facebook says
Keep us posted on how it turns out. This is scary, especially since it is in my own backyard so to speak. I have been fortunate to never have to take my kids there but I know many who have. It is really getting to the point of us not being able to trust conventional medicine(as in the case of the Amish family) or doctors’ diagnosis(what happened to being free to get a 2nd opinion???)…if we question it, we are “in the wrong”. How in the world did hospitals and doctors get this much power to take children away from parents?
Commenter via Facebook says
Praying for this family and for our country in general that thinks that it’s ok to overstep parental authority.
Commenter via Facebook says
WOW!
Commenter via Facebook says
Interesting that the position from Boston Mass. General Hospital supported the parents, so why didn’t she go there? They can cause permanent damage if some one does not get her back on track.
Commenter via Facebook says
It is especially horrifying considering her age – she is old enough to tell her story to doctors and social workers. Imagine if she was a toddler??
Commenter via Facebook says
It is disgusting that in a “free” country, someone has the authority to just take a child away from her parents when there are no signs of abuse or neglect. She was basically taken because her parents cared TOO much! As a parent, it’s a horrifying thought.
Commenter via Facebook says
And this is why people are starting to avoid Dr’s and hospitals now. Paying way more for coverage we are scared to use…… yeah can’t wait for my kids to be adults and terrified for any grandchildren I may have
Commenter via Facebook says
I am sick after reading this 🙁
Commenter via Facebook says
Thankfully that Amish family, Herschberger, had a problem with their daughter being taken from them for forced cancer treatments. They fled the country and healed her naturally. The hospital just dropped their custody. It’s so disgusting that we live in this kind of society where if you don’t do what you are told the big guys will just take your kids from you.
Commenter via Facebook says
Thank you Kelly the Kitchen Kop for mentioning this. My son has the same disease that Justina has and luckily I’ve never had to deal with this problem. Unfortunately, a lot of parents in the mito community are not as lucky. There are numerous accounts of parents that have been accused of Munchhausen’s By Proxy. Anyone who is interested to find out more about mitochondrial disease, you can go to mitoaction.org or UMDF.org. And thanks again and we can only hope and pray as a mito community that Justina is returned to her family.
Commenter via Facebook says
Absolutely horrifying. The parents are the kids best advocate if the kid doesn’t have the capacity to defend themself.
Commenter via Facebook says
Unbelievable
Commenter via Facebook says
just atrocious behavior by so called “professionals” – what I really wish was that the rally could storm the hospital and take Justina to her family & somehow put an end to this nightmare for them.
Chloe Blue says
https://www.facebook.com/events/619801781400019/
CALLING ALL LOCALS – PLEASE Attend this rally for Justina!
Show Support for Justina and her Family, tomorrow, THURSDAY December 12th 9am-1pm
This is the FINAL COURTDATE!!!
9am – 1PM
Suffolk Probate And Family Court
24 New Chardon Street, Boston MA
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
KitchenKop says
I’ll put this on my Facebook!
Kelly
Diane says
From what I have read she was ice skating and walking when she got sick with the flu(with Mito, the flu is life threatening) . In the hospital’s mental ward she is now unable to walk. Lost weight. Not allowed a computer or a phone. Torture.
I tell all parents- don’t trust them for a minute.
mrl says
I wonder how much her health has improved in the hospital? Is she being schooled? What kind of life is this?
Commenter via Facebook says
I’ve had nothing but good experiences here, but you bet I will be writing them a letter! Very disturbing – especially as in general, I would say the culture here has been very respectful to me as a parent.
Commenter via Facebook says
there was another girl before her
Commenter via Facebook says
How does this happen? How can a parent be “too active” and not be the best advocate for their daughter? This is crazy!
Jill says
Oh. My. Gosh. THIS is why we must keep our kids out of the system as much as possible. The health care system seems to be rearing its monstrous, power hungry, arrogant head at crazy, unpredictable, but more frequent times–God help the child (and their parents) who happens to be in its way when it occurs.
Does this type of thing happen in big cities more often than small town hospitals because of less accountability? Does it happen more in academic hospitals? Is this about medical experimentation? Just old fashioned arrogance? What the heck?
In the current climate, if I were an expectant or new mom, I would home birth, use a naturopath, and never allow my kids into the conventional healthcare system except in a dire emergency. Period.
Commenter via Facebook says
I can view it. OMG. Not again!
Commenter via Facebook says
I just clicked read full article everything was there thank u! Super sad story!:(
Commenter via Facebook says
WHen I read the article there was no video but there was a big white space where on could be….and its a scary article:-(