Do You Think This Is Abuse?

[lizbud]

But do you really think the child should be taken away? That's what I don't understand. The Mother sounds like she was ignorant to her child's needs. She needs some education - like child development or something. Perhaps she's dirt poor and has no teeth herself? I don't know. I just don't think the child should be taken away from her.

Hopfully the mother will now get the messgae that this is criminal neglect
on her part. She probably will have to take parenting classes before the boy
will be returned to her.I think the fact that she knew he was in pain for
months on end & never made a move to get help for her child, is proof of
neglect that is criminal.

[Vela]

Yes it's digusting abuse. He will now no longer have all of his adult teeth, when teeth decay to that extent they usually go in and also decay the permanent teeth. It coudl very well be that he won't be able to keep his permanent teeth due to the decay and will never have normal teeth, not to mention the pain with teeth like that is excruciating! I've had one cavity and it was HORRID. This could also have given him a system-wide illness and even given him heart damage from the infections in his mouth. Why do you think they said he would have needed to be in the hospital in six months?? It is digusting and lazy and damn straight he should have been placed with people who will give him proper care. If she can learn not to be so damn negligent then fine, but until then he needs better care. Foster care SUCKS, but she is unfit at present. There is no excuse, there are free clinics, Medicaid, etc etc etc .

[critter crazy]

I think they did the right thing by takig that boy away from his mother!! That is just wrong!! How can a mothr just do that??? watch your child in pain and do nothing?? I dont care if you have insurance or not!! Doctors are very willing to take payment lans, even if it is only 5$ a week! There is no excuse, i cannot even begin to understand how some people think! That poor boy has to endure at least 10yrs worth of pain and discomfort, if not more!!

[Catty1]

Elizabethann - I am sure the mother needs education and more information, and a slap up the side of the head...but her child should not be with her until she DOES change and learn all that stuff.

JMO

[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.