Opinion ID: 1908241
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Assessment of the evidence.

Text: We do not believe that the judge was plainly wrong in finding that a limited measure of state intervention in E.H.'s life was required in her best interest. On the contrary, the judge's dispositive findings were solidly based on the opinions of all three of the District's experts. Moreover, since G.H. was not in treatment, the judge's order was at least arguably reconcilable with Dr. Johnson's views as well. The mother argues that the 1994 balcony incidents were too stale to merit consideration, that taking E.H. on several trips to emergency rooms to check for the effects of toxic fumes was not contrary to the child's welfare, and that the mother's loving attention to E.H.'s physical needs, as well as the mother's receptiveness to Dr. Weissman's referrals, demonstrate that E.H. suffered no harm from the mother's delusional beliefs. In our view, however, it was not unreasonable for the trial judge, acting as parens patriae in the child's interest, to reject this analysis of the record. It is undisputed that E.H. suffered from serious developmental delays and that her condition required immediate attention and treatment. This is of critical importance, for an individual who is able to parent a child with advanced or average skills may nevertheless be unable to carry out the additional responsibilities required to raise a child with special needs. See, e.g., In re L.W., 613 A.2d 350, 358, 360 n. 24 (D.C.1992). Although it is true that the mother cooperated in E.H.'s treatment and that she consulted the professionals to whom Dr. Weissman referred her, there was a good deal more to the problem than that. The reader will recall Dr. Weissman's doubts that the mother would be able to follow through and provide the kind of nurturing and stimulation that E.H. needed so badly. Surely the trial judge could reasonably find that Dr. Weissman had a credible point. It is difficult to imagine how E.H. could alleviate her problems with language and communication, or catch up with her peers, if she was consistently exposed at home to an atmosphere of almost total irrationality. Moreover, in this case, the source of that irrationality was the sole adult with whom E.H. had continuing contact. At home, E.H.'s life was dominated by her mother's delusions and, in particular, by imaginary toxic fumes. On several occasions, she slept on the balcony to escape these fumes. The windows were kept open regardless of the temperature. The dishes were in the living room, as was most of the food. E.H. was taken to the emergency room for the treatment of imaginary ailments. Relatives and friends were suspected of responsibility for the fumes, and personal relationships suffered accordingly. E.H. was already more than two years old when this proceeding was instituted. Soon, she would be asking questions, and her mother would be the principal source, if not the only source, of answers. [21] The trial judge could reasonably believe that the kinds of answers that E.H. would be likely to receive from a mother whose life was so dominated by persecutory delusions would not be helpful to the favorable resolution of the child's special needs. Moreover, the mother's hyper-vigilance led her to suspect the members of her family, the father of her child, and other people, of plotting against her and of attempting to do harm to her and to E.H. as well. G.H.'s outlook, according to Dr. Missar, was one of suspicion, anger, and isolation from others. The trial judge was not required to overlook the obvious danger that some or all of these traits might well have negative consequences for this particular child. Finally, there was pragmatic evidence suggesting that, in relation to her developmental problems, E.H. was better off in her father's home than in her mother's. Dr. Weissman testified that after E.H. was placed with the father, she showed improvement and was more alert and responsive, in the confines of an office setting, than she had been previously. Dr. Weissman had no concerns about the father like those he had expressed as to the mother. Ms. Nguyen also had a favorable impression of E.H.'s adjustment in her father's home.