Do You Think This Is Abuse?

[CathyBogart]

I do think he should have been taken away. Even if all she needs is some education, she should know that chronic pain for OVER A YEAR requires attention. A year is more than enough time to locate a free clinic in your area and take the kid to a doctor.

I'm not totally against the kid being returned to his mother if the gets some education (if that is in fact what she needs) but I think it's good that she had the shock of having him taken away to show her that she needs to take an interest in her son's health!!

It's not like he would have gone to the jail with her anyways, so she was going to be without him at this time regardless.

[Karen]

Yes, I think it is abuse. Neglect to a criminal degree. I also think that just not visiting the dentist would not have cause that amount of rot and decay and pain. Did she EVER have the kid brush his teeth? Ever? Letting him suffer for a year when she knew he was in pain is unconscionable.

[caseysmom]

He was most likely malnourished for this to happen.

[IRescue452]

YES! Lord I can't imagine the pain that little boy went through. I chipped a tooth once and ignored it and soon enough the nerve was exposed. It was extremely painful. There were times I even went into shock from the pain. I won't go into the lack of health care. I've no doubt that this boy has some predisposed condition that led to his teeth having no enamel because at this age there would not be this extent of damage for somebody with normal teeth. But the government has health care programs for children.