Opinion ID: 1649129
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Seeking Unnecessary Medical Treatment

Text: We recognize that at the adjudication hearing, Shawna admitted to seeking unnecessary medical care to Shawna's detriment. At the termination hearing, however, Clark testified to specific facts about Shelby's health and medical contacts in her first 17 months. The State introduced these facts as circumstantial evidence that Shelby was at risk whenever Shawna was responsible for her medical decisions. As the Court of Appeals' opinion demonstrates, the State's proof that Shelby was at risk with Shawna depended heavily upon contrasting Shelby's health and medical contacts while in Shawna's care to her health and medical contacts while in foster care. Keeping in mind the State's standard of clear and convincing burden of proof, we review the sufficiency of this circumstantial evidence. The State's conclusion that Shawna placed Shelby at risk hangs on two premises: (1) Shelby was seen by a doctor less frequently in foster care and (2) Shelby's health substantially improved in foster care. But the State's argument and conclusion collapse under the weight of the evidence. First, the State failed to prove its premise that Shelby was substantially healthier in foster care. More important, the State's premises do not necessarily support its conclusion.