Opinion ID: 1649129
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Shelby's Medical Contacts During Reunification

Text: Shawna admitted that she had taken Shelby to the doctor more during the reunification period than had the foster care providers. But MacDonald's testimony directly contradicted Clark's testimony that Shawna had sought unnecessary emergency medical treatment and had placed Shelby at risk through her medical contacts while she was reunited with Shelby. MacDonald testified that she had reviewed the hospital reports regarding Shelby's two emergency room visits in July 2001 and was unconcerned with either of the treatments. She said that Shawna had not acted inappropriately by following the directions of the nursing service. MacDonald believed that Shawna needed extra reassurance and education because there may be some extent of a vulnerable child syndrome, which she described as a spectrum of parents with a heightened awareness of their child's health due to the child's real medical problems. But MacDonald testified that if she had suspected MSBP or believed that there was an issue with vulnerable child syndrome to the point of causing harm to Shelby, she would had made a referral for a diagnosis. She specifically testified, however, that she had never diagnosed either disorder and that she did not believe it was necessary to make a referral. Finally, Clark admitted that during reunification, many of Shawna's medical contacts for Shelby were necessary and that no doctor had ever reported to her that an office visit or emergency room treatment was unnecessary. In fact, Clark could not point to any of Shelby's medical appointments that were unnecessary or point to any harm Shelby had suffered because of a medical contact during reunification. In sum, the State produced no evidence that Shawna intentionally induced or falsified Shelby's symptoms or was even suspected of this behavior. Furthermore, the State failed to adduce expert testimony that Shawna was diagnosed with MSBP disorder. In the absence of proving medical abuse, the State has shown that Shawna is overprotective, excessively worries, and sometimes takes Shelby to the doctor for minor problems. But MacDonald did not believe Shelby had been harmed by any of Shawna's medical contacts, and Clark could not point to any harm because of these contacts.