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My daughter has CAH and lives with her father. He has not taken her to an Endocrine apt. since Feb of 2005. I took her this past week b/c of the flu, she was serverly dehydrated, and the ER doctor wanted to know if she was getting her medication. When she was asked she said that she did not remember. She is only 9 and she is in charge of taking her meds w/o anyone watching her, this worries me. He also has not made any of the apts for her to have to construction surgery of her vaginal opening, and she is starting to get pubic hair. Is this medical neglect?

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $6

Dear Customer (name blocked for privacy),

This is absolutely medical neglect. As I'm sure you know, your daughter requires regular communication with her Endocrinologist. If she hasn't been there since February, how is she getting her prescriptions refilled? She IS supposed to be taking some kind of corticosteroid medication. Besides, she needs extra attention with other illnesses like this flu she has.

Please get this straightened out. Your daughter's CAH is causing her to not produce vital hormones. She NEEDS her meds. Seek legal advice or child protective services. Here are some phone numbers to help you. This needs to be addresses immediately:

CHILD ABUSE & ASSISTANCE HOTLINES :

Child Abuse Hotline/Dept of Social Services 1-800-342-3720

National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-792-5200

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline/Voices for Children
1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4ACHILD)
TDD: 1-800-2A-CHILD.
Provides multilingual crisis intervention and proffesional counseling on child abuse. Gives referrals to local social service groups offering counseling on child abuse. Has literature on child abuse in English and Spanish.
***Operates 24 hours***

Boys Town National Hotline
1-800-448-3000
TDD: 1-800-448-1833
For children and parents in any type of personal crisis. Trained counselors will provide help in abusive relationships, parent-child conflicts, pregnancy, runaway youth, suicide, physical and sexual abuse.

***Operates 24 hours***

Reply to AnnlynnRN's Post: I called the abuse and neglect hotline and they said that they could not find any neglect b/c he told them that he took her for labs in July of 2005. But even if he really did (which the nurses that I spoke with could not find the labs in her file) that is still more than the 3-4 months that she would of needed to be seen. I do not know what to do, we are trying to get custody back of her. She is also suppost to see a Psychatrist or a Psychologist. He was suppost to have her in treatment w/in 15 days of the judgement and that was over 2 yrs ago. He has taken her to 5 different ppl when I say something about it, then he takes her out after the 2-3 visit. What do I do?

Customer (name blocked for privacy),

That's nuts! What hotline did you call? How could they investigate your claim so fast? Did you call them before posting your question here, or did you use the one I gave you? You can easily obtain all the evidence you need to prove neglect. He claims to have taken her for labs in July, but if there is no record of them, he hasn't any proof. Call the doctor and the pharmacy so you can get proof that she hasn't been having her prescriptions filled. You can then give that info to child protective services. That alone should win you custody.

I can't advise you on legal issues because I am not qualified, but I suggest you call the abuse hotline again...and again...and again until someone takes some action for your daughter. Where do you live? I will try to find a number in your city that can help you.

Most importantly, right now you need to get her meds. Take her to the doctor yourself and get her prescriptions. Take her in the morning and while you are there, get all the documentation to show when she was last seen and when she was last prescribed her meds. This is just crazy. I feel your frustration. Let me know what I can do. In the meantime, get some legal advice.

Just curious, how often is she supposed to have her labs done?

Edited by AnnlynnRN on December 26 2005 at 10:08 PM

Reply to AnnlynnRN's Post: I had to take her back to her father's. It was the Missouri abuse and neglect hotline, they forwarded it to the local DFS. I made the call on Thursday and she called me on Saturday to tell me there was no neglect. I even gave her the name and number of the nurse I was talking to at Children's Mercy. I do not get her back till after the New Year. But I did take her and have labs drawn. They said that her levels were back to normal and that we could go back to her reg. dose. When we had levels drawn at the ER they said that her Sodium and Patasium was low!! Her Patasium has never been low a day in her life!!! I have a social worker from the hospital trying to help me and with you saying that we need to seek legal help my husband has told me that we will find a way to find a lawyer this week. Thank you. I am just scared while she is not here. I tried to seek an emergency order for her to stay with me till we could get back in court but they would not talk to me b/c he already has primary custody!! I love our legal system! She is suppost to have labs done every 3 to 4 months

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on December 26 2005 at 10:17 PM

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