Mitochondrial disease is real!
Not only is it real, it is acknowledged as a legitimate medical condition by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, the National Institute of Health, and...wait for it...Boston Children's Hospital.
That last entity is specifically highlighted on the list because it was at the center of the Justina Pelletier case, which I have mentioned in an earlier blog entry.
At the heart of the Justina Pelletier case is a relatively new category of abuse invented by CPS - medical child abuse. Medical child abuse is described as being when "a child receives unnecessary and harmful or potentially harmful medical treatment at the hands of a parent or caregiver".
Although Boston Children's Hospital has a mitochondrial disease treatment center, Justina didn't enter through that branch - she was brought in through the Emergency Room. An ER doctor diagnosed her with a psychological disorder and removed her from all her medications for mitochondrial disease, and when the parents objected, CPS was called in and the parents were charged.
Ironically, it was the actions of CPS in concert with the hospital staff - who never consulted with Justina's specialist or even their own mitochondrial treatment center - that harmed Justina.
Although mitochondrial disease is genetic and at this point in time cannot be "cured", the progressive nature of the disease in damaging almost all body systems can be slowed, or even stopped, for periods of time. But doing so relies on a "mitococktail", a combination composed primarily of dietary supplements that has usually been tailored to match the specific symptoms that have been evidenced by a patient.
Because a mitococktail can be purchased over the counter, most insurances do not cover the costs, and so CPS had an "in" to claim that this was an "unnecessary or potentially harmful treatment". (To support the coverage of mitococktails by insurance, please sign a petition by clicking HERE.)
However, removing Justina from all her treatments not only didn't "cure her", she ended up returning to the custody of her parents with her condition being much further advanced as a result.
Wait, hold on a minute...under the CPS definitions, isn't it "medical neglect" when a parent or a caregiver fails to give medical treatment which a child needs? Therefore, since Justina was diagnosed with a legitimately recognized medical condition, CPS themselves are guilty of medical neglect by actively participating in denying her necessary medical treatment.
Although the Pelletiers regained custody of their daughter after more than a year, both Massachusetts and Connecticut now have "founded" or "substantiated" reports on them in the permanent files. This means that if there is even a hint of a problem in the future, once again they will be hauled through the travesty of a system that falsely charges parents for the offenses that they themselves are committing.
By definition, malpractice is improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment, especially by a medical practitioner, lawyer, or public official. And the actions of CPS in persecuting parents who are battling mitochondrial disease definitely qualify as malpractice.
It is time to speak out, stand up, and overturn a corrupt, self-serving system!
Not only is it real, it is acknowledged as a legitimate medical condition by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, the National Institute of Health, and...wait for it...Boston Children's Hospital.
That last entity is specifically highlighted on the list because it was at the center of the Justina Pelletier case, which I have mentioned in an earlier blog entry.
At the heart of the Justina Pelletier case is a relatively new category of abuse invented by CPS - medical child abuse. Medical child abuse is described as being when "a child receives unnecessary and harmful or potentially harmful medical treatment at the hands of a parent or caregiver".
Although Boston Children's Hospital has a mitochondrial disease treatment center, Justina didn't enter through that branch - she was brought in through the Emergency Room. An ER doctor diagnosed her with a psychological disorder and removed her from all her medications for mitochondrial disease, and when the parents objected, CPS was called in and the parents were charged.
Ironically, it was the actions of CPS in concert with the hospital staff - who never consulted with Justina's specialist or even their own mitochondrial treatment center - that harmed Justina.
Although mitochondrial disease is genetic and at this point in time cannot be "cured", the progressive nature of the disease in damaging almost all body systems can be slowed, or even stopped, for periods of time. But doing so relies on a "mitococktail", a combination composed primarily of dietary supplements that has usually been tailored to match the specific symptoms that have been evidenced by a patient.
Because a mitococktail can be purchased over the counter, most insurances do not cover the costs, and so CPS had an "in" to claim that this was an "unnecessary or potentially harmful treatment". (To support the coverage of mitococktails by insurance, please sign a petition by clicking HERE.)
However, removing Justina from all her treatments not only didn't "cure her", she ended up returning to the custody of her parents with her condition being much further advanced as a result.
Wait, hold on a minute...under the CPS definitions, isn't it "medical neglect" when a parent or a caregiver fails to give medical treatment which a child needs? Therefore, since Justina was diagnosed with a legitimately recognized medical condition, CPS themselves are guilty of medical neglect by actively participating in denying her necessary medical treatment.
Although the Pelletiers regained custody of their daughter after more than a year, both Massachusetts and Connecticut now have "founded" or "substantiated" reports on them in the permanent files. This means that if there is even a hint of a problem in the future, once again they will be hauled through the travesty of a system that falsely charges parents for the offenses that they themselves are committing.
By definition, malpractice is improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment, especially by a medical practitioner, lawyer, or public official. And the actions of CPS in persecuting parents who are battling mitochondrial disease definitely qualify as malpractice.
It is time to speak out, stand up, and overturn a corrupt, self-serving system!
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