Who Failed Rebecca? (Trees And Things)

ivyafire: Re: Let's hold off...

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:20:46 EST

You should never give children aspirin during certain illnesses, lest they get
Reyes syndrome.

When I was a child we watched my younger brother nearly die from

pO157: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:17:28 EST

I, for one, await the day when psychiatry becomes more like other fields of medicine (cardiology, infectious diseases, whatever) where there are actual tests with measurable parameters for these ailments. Until then there is too much room for error and hor

ivyafire: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:50:37 EST

I believe some children do exhibit symptoms of some mental disorders very early on, but in this case it sounds like the doc just took the parent's word and prescribed the drugs. Inexcusable.

I don't understand this. We're dealing with

postillion: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:03:04 EST

Rather than pressing charges against the psychiatrist, perhaps the relationship between the psychiatrist and patient within the health care system needs to be reassessed.

As I understand it, the hysterical stories about multiple identity syndromes in th

pO157: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:38:48 EST

I disagree that the doctor is wholly culpable. Let's change the situation a bit. What if Rebbecca was a 50 year old woman tasked with the care of her 80 year old mother? Rebbecca goes to mom's doctor and complains about the mother's mental deterioration, o

PenitenziAgite: Re: Let's hold off...

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:52:58 EST

Hey, there's a big difference between being in favor of immunization and treating 4 year old for bipolar disorder. I didn't even know children that young could go on hypo-manic gambling and sex sprees to Vegas.

thefadd: Re: Let's hold off...

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:20:37 EST

I would bar aspirin for nearly everyone. It's good for people at risk of heart attacks and in limited, specific circumstances for adults of the general population but it's my understanding acetaminophen is preferable for children.

JimmyHavok: Re: Let's hold off...

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:35:32 EST

I wonder if you would bar aspirin for children under 12? I can testify that it alters my mood quite a bit when I'm sick. I would agree that doctors should be very careful about prescribing anti-psychotic drugs to children. However, consid

JimmyHavok: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:12:32 EST

what sort of havoc is wreaked on synapses with all those chemicals altering moods and short circuiting the brain's operation?

Good question...you don't seem to have waited for an answer.

I have to agree, the depravity of her parents is unimagi

thefadd: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:13:30 EST

Why are these medications being prescribed for such young children in the first place? Why are such prescriptions being doled out without a more detailed diagnosis? How could an amount capable of achieving the alleged level of doping in a child be getting

MayorBob: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:36:32 EST

Perhaps it was unclear in my write up, but Dr. Kifuji is a woman. If the state's allegations against the parents are proved in court, then what they did was lie to have their child diagnosed as bipolar, thereby giving them the meds to dope her up so

thefadd: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:27:23 EST

I'm not fully buying the party line on this one. State childhood welfare agencies are notoriously poorly run and filled with vindictive crusaders who overstep reasonable bounds left and right.

The culpability of the doctor seems open and shut. He is

pO157: Re: Let's hold off...

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:54:38 EST

No. But I would still argue that while the doctor is not blameless the culpability rests primarily with the parents, unless he knew they were lying about everything just to claim disability.

gerrymander: Re: Let's hold off...

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:38:44 EST

Are we in danger of a second occurrence if the doctor's license is revoked?

MayorBob: Re: Who Failed Rebecca?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:56:49 EST

This was a story I found difficult to put together. It was difficult for me to withhold my shock and horror at what had happened to Rebecca. As I was typing up the story my youngest granddaughter, who just celebrated her first birthday was play

pO157: Re: Let's hold off...

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:54:16 EST

I'd limit the sanctions for the doctor to be loss of his license and civil liability. The parents are the ones responsible by continually demanding medication from this doctor. If they did lie to the Doctor then how is he supposed to know that Rebbecca rea

songofthepogo: Re: Let's hold off...

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:58:57 EST

i'll second what you wrote.

now, i'm admittedly ignorant about things like bipolar disorder, but i always thought it was something that didn't seriously manifest until the person was a bit older, say early puberty. seems like 4 is far too young to

port1080: Let's hold off...

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:47:29 EST

...on treating kids for mental illness until they at least have the ability to talk, 'k? Some may be surprised by my stance on this, given my strong support for childhood immunization, but I'm very, very skeptical of treating children under the age o