What happens when faith-based thinking is allowed to prosper:

[theweaselking]

CAS called after *psychic* tells TA that child is being abused.

CAS, being sensible in this case, met their legal obligations to investigate by sending an apologetic case worker around, taking a brief look, and closing the case as "ridiculous" - a direct quote from the investigator.

Comments

[jackoutofthebox.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised the lawyers aren't beating a path to her door. That woman has a clear case against both the school board, the individual education person, and the psychic.

[eididdy.livejournal.com]

In other faith-based thinking news, Authorities say a teenager from a faith-healing family died from an illness that could have been easily treated, just a few months after a toddler cousin of his died in a case that has led to criminal charges.

[reyl.livejournal.com]

I hope the TA is fired. Sure, educators have to report if they have a suspicion that something could be going on. But because a psychic said so? I'm sensing there is more to this. Either the TA already had suspicions, but no real proof, or she has some kind of grudge against this mother. Sometimes teachers can have resentment towards special needs kids, and make lives more difficult for them so the parents will take them out of the school. Looks like they got what they wanted.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Actually, the psychic is most likely shielded by the "entertainment purposes only" disclaimer that all psychics use to avoid being sued for shit like this.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

The TA, the teacher, and the principal.

None of them should ever be allowed near a child, ever again. They're too stupid to be trusted.

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

Yes, to the TA -- but I'm pretty sure the teacher and principal are law-bound to investigate once they've had a report, no matter how spurious. Even they were ashamed of this whole thing, from what I've read.

Although there is also the issue of the very expensive treatment this parent wanted for her child -- they may very well have wanted the girl out of their system.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jeremiad/]

This.

Even if the higher-ups think there is nothing substantive to the claim, they are required by law to report it anyway once someone voices suspicions.

[reyl.livejournal.com]

The medical establishment has been pretty frustrating about treatment for autistic kids. If they could just give them drugs or surgery they'd be a lot more comfortable. But the kind of 1 on 1 theraputic education these kids need to thrive costs a fortune. Staying home with your kid and reading a ton of books to figure out the treatment yourself is sometimes the only option if schools can't or won't accomodate them.

No, I don't have an autistic kid, but it's something I'm really interested in.

[jackoutofthebox.livejournal.com]

Then she's got a rather twisted view of entertainment.

[reyl.livejournal.com]

Natural selection?

[I mean, sad for the kids and all. Scary.]

[jerril]

Ditto.

Arguably, the public school system isn't very well set up to be the provider of this sort of treatment, but unfortunately the healthcare system (in the US and in Canada) isn't exactly set up for this either. Nobody is, leaving parents and educators the choice of putting the kid in a system that isn't well equipped vs sending them to private therapy for big bucks, or leaving the parent to try and deliver the therapy themselves despite having no training.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

The news report I heard said the mother was investigating her legal options.

[publius1.livejournal.com]

I predict this will not end well for the TA.

[missysedai.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure the teacher and principal are law-bound to investigate once they've had a report, no matter how spurious.

Yes, they are mandated reporters.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

god damn did that piss me off.

Honestly? if a psychic or a religious nut or a cookie shaped like the virgin mary says a child is being abused, I think there's not too much harm in checking it out.

but letting a child die because you're too fucking stupid to intuit that god doesn't give a shit about aspirin and bandaids ... that pisses me off.

[glitteringlynx.livejournal.com]

OMG! I was told all about this a few days ago by my co-worker. She knows the mother whose child was affected. :/

[eididdy.livejournal.com]

I like how it didn't work with the one kid but they still thought they'd try it with the other. I guess I should be fair and point out that the kid was apparently old enough by state law to pick for himself. Not that his religious indoctrination would have let him choose any other way...

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

It's a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation for them.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

Well, these are people that clearly don't believe in the scientific method, so just because it didn't work for one kid is no reason to change what jezus tells you to do.