Justina Pelletier.

This name should send shivers up the spines of parents all across America.

Those same shivers should also ripple across the globe, because “if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere”.

For those of you who don’t know who Justina is, she is a 15 year-old girl who has been kidnapped and taken hostage by the infamous, scandal ridden, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Those outside the New England area may not be aware of the embattled agency, but they have been under a microscope for a while now after 5 year-old Jeremiah Oliver went missing last September and is now presumed dead, (but we’ll get to that in a minute). Justina and her sister Jennifer both have Mitochondrial Disease, and they both have the same doctor at Tufts Medical Center. Mitochondrial Disease is where the body’s cells can’t create the energy needed for those afflicted. This causes patients to have numerous symptoms, from tiredness, memory loss, erratic blood pressure, vision problems, and even the inability to walk. Because Mitochondria is so hard to diagnose, a lot of families find themselves caught between the conflicting opinions of doctors who are in disagreement. Sadly, this is exactly what happened to the Pelletier’s.

When Justina came down with the flu, the family rushed their little girl to Boston Children’s Hospital, on the advice of Tufts Medical because their usual physician wasn’t available. When they arrived at BCH the doctors disagreed with the Mitochondrial diagnosis. BCH insisted that Justina has a psychiatric condition, and was then moved to a locked psychiatric ward within the hospital. Once this happened, the Pelletier’s demanded to see the GI specialist at BCH, and asked the BCH doctors to consult with the doctors at Tufts. While this battle raged, poor Jessica just laid there in pain, getting no help or treatment from either.

What should first bother, then scare, and eventually infuriate all Americans, (not just these 2 parents), is that this episode could’ve been completely avoided. The doctors at BCH could’ve picked up the phone, and contacted the physicians who had been overseeing both Pelletier sisters. Instead of working with the Pelletier’s, the doctors at BCH decided amongst themselves that Lou and Linda, the loving parents who drove three hours to take their sick daughter to a hospital, were child abusers who were over treating Justina. This led to the Pelletier’s being removed from the hospital, and a call being placed to the notorious, and disreputable Department of Children and Families who on Valentines day took it upon themselves to file a 51A accusing them of medical abuse. Still, not one person in BCH or DCF thought it advantageous to do any investigative work, like CALLING THE DOCTOR who gave this diagnosis in the first place.

This case has been deteriorating for over a year now, and the Pelletier’s only get to see their little girl once a week. They are not allowed to take pictures, bring cell phones, whisper, or bring any type of food to Justina. Lou has recently been speaking out about both the case, and his daughters condition, to the ire of both the MA Courts, and DCF who first petitioned for, and then received a gag order. Last week after Lou spoke to The Blaze and Glenn Beck, the authoritarians of DCF petitioned the court to slap Lou with a contempt of court violation. Lou has been defiant which has led to overwhelming support and donations for assistance. Most of all it, this case has brought awareness to an outrageous and overzealous government agency, and a corrupt court that seems to side with “The State” at all costs, (even ignoring the stress they have caused this little girl and her family).

As a MA resident, I am appalled at the actions of the doctors, DCF, the courts, and of those in Governor Deval Patrick’s administration who have not yet resolved this mess. We hear more and more about an over-bearing, authoritarian government that can do whatever it pleases, with no justice, no legal recourse, and little to no punishment for those who are just “following orders”. This case adds further fuel to the fire for those who say that America has entered extremely dangerous territory.

The Pelletier’s don’t seem to have many options here. They can’t take their daughter home, and they have been slandered as abusers and criminals. Plus, all of this is happening in a state where the department in charge of keeping kids safe, is SO BAD, they literally lost a 5 year-old kid like a set of car keys. Yet “The State” is supposed to keep Justina safe? “The State” is supposed to know what is best for her? All Americans, parents or not, need to know about this case, & they need to tell people about it despite some judge issuing a gag order blocking the truth. We need to demand that Justina is immediately returned to the arms of her family before something bad happens to her at the hands of the State.

Gov Patrick’s number is as follows Phone: 617.725.4005

TNAM Guest Opinion Contributor
Donny Zaltzberg
Zaltzy1212@gmail.com
Twitter: @Zaltzy12