Do You Think This Is Abuse?

[jackie]

I do feel this is neglect, but maybe she had no form of insurance and had no way to pay for her son to visit a dentist. This is one of the reasons why health care needs to be more readily avalivable, or at least make it avaliable for all children.

I agree with this statement 100%. I am still undecided whether the boy would be better off in foster care or not. It is a tough call and need more information before making judgement. I am very suprised the bail is so high, $25,000 seems like a lot.

[Cataholic]

I have no dental insurance, and haven't for years.

I go to the dentist twice a year, and Jonah will go beginning at age 3 (this is the age my dentist suggests). Not having insurance is not an excuse. Not having money is not an excuse. There are, at least here in Ohio, several facilities that accomodate the lower income/no income population.

This is abuse. It is neglect.

[Miss Z]

Yes, I think that is abuse. Dental pain is one of the most painful things around, and I don't believe any 'true' mother could be conscious of the fact that her child was in pain for so long and not do anything about it. 'True' mothers move the earth for their kids. Perhaps the child being taken away will shock her system a bit, and she'll realise the full extent of what she has done.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I do feel this is neglect, but maybe she had no form of insurance and had no way to pay for her son to visit a dentist. This is one of the reasons why health care needs to be more readily avalivable, or at least make it avaliable for all children.

I agree, so many people are without insurance they are forced to make choices like not taking their children to see a doctor. I think the mother should be charged with neglect but if the only problem with the child is his teeth I don't think they should have taken him away. Imagine how much stress he must be in to be in a totally new household with his mother in jail. Is that really the best thing for him?

[K9soul]

if the only problem with the child is his teeth I don't think they should have taken him away.

I don't think some folks are understanding how serious a problem a mouth full of rotting teeth is. It doesn't stop at the teeth, it goes down into the gum and jaw, and into the blood stream. If left long enough (as it was being left with this child) the results can be FATAL. For him to have such horribly rotting teeth, I am betting he was malnourished too, as someone else stated. He has been taken away for now but I doubt for good unless the mother continually keeps blowing it by doing these things and if she shows no remorse etc. Yes being in foster care can be emotionally traumatic but as the article stated, he would soon have been in the hospital with life-threatening complications. He also more than likely will have lasting problems from this having gotten so bad.. and perhaps no adult teeth ever.

[Lady's Human]

It is abuse. There are numerous free medical and dental programs available, so monetary reasons are no excuse.

[lizbud]

I am very suprised the bail is so high, $25,000 seems like a lot.

You know that the person doesn't not have to come up with that amount
to post bail, don't you? I think it's something like 10% of the amount gets
the person bail.

The woman does need help, even if she doen't think so. Ignornace is no
excuse.The child is evidently not getting the care that he needs & the mom
thought that wasn't a problem.Rotting teeth is a serious health problem.

[Twisterdog]

Yes, I think the child should have been taken away. That's absurd. And, if she is that ignorant, and able to let her child suffer for a year and do nothing about it, what would she do about another type of suffering? If he were to break his arm, would she just ignore it, and say she assumed the bone would eventually heal on it's own? As a parent, you do ANYthing to make sure your children aren't suffering or hurting.

As for the cost, I haven't had medical insurance for the last ten years. My son has always seen the dentist and doctor when needed. I make sacrifices in other less important areas to pay those bills. And if this woman was truly so destitute that she couldn't even do that, there are federal and state-funded programs (like Medicare) to pay for children's medical and dental care.