In 2012, a teenager was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease at Tufts Medical Center. That disease is a rare genetic disorder. Children’s Hospital in Boston, however, diagnosed the teen as having psychiatric problems. When the girl’s parents disagreed with the second diagnosis, they wanted her to be taken to Tufts again. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families took custody of the teen after medical child abuse allegations were raised against her parents. Eventually, custody was returned to her parents in 2014, and she was moved to a Thompson, Connecticut, medical facility.

The girl, who is now 17, says that she was treated badly when this was happening. She said, “Just imagine being in a psych ward without needing to be in a psych ward. I’m very angry, and I just don’t understand how this happened, and I really don’t want this to happen ever again to any other family.”

The family has filed a lawsuit against Children’s Hospital for violation of the family members’ civil rights, extreme emotional distress, medical malpractice and negligence. The hospital says that it will defend the care given to the teen and that state law requires the reporting of suspected child maltreatment. The family’s attorney said that DCF was acting on the doctors’ advice when they took custody of the teen.

According to the Christian Defense Coalition’s director, the family suffered 18 months of “emotional, physical, spiritual and psychological suffering and pain.”

The teen’s father said his daughter has undergone three surgeries since she returned home to Connecticut. He said her condition is improving, and she hopes to walk again.

This case is one that involves medical malpractice allegations against many of the doctors at Children’s Hospital; however, there are other allegations as well. If you feel that you have a similar case, an experienced attorney can help you seek full compensation for what you and your family have endured.

Source: Boston Herald, “Family of teen in medical custody dispute sues hospital,” Feb. 25, 2016