Opinion ID: 1934296
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: mental defect or deficiency

Text: Under § 43-292(5), when a natural parent suffers from a mental deficiency and cannot be rehabilitated within a reasonable period of time, the best interests of the child require that a final disposition be made without delay. In re Interest of D.A.B. and J.B., 240 Neb. 653, 483 N.W.2d 550 (1992). We have held that where a parent is unable to discharge parental responsibilities because of mental illness or disorder and there are reasonable grounds to believe that such condition will continue for a prolonged and indeterminate period, parental rights may be terminated if such action is found to be in the best interests of the children. See In re Interest of B.M., 239 Neb. 292, 475 N.W.2d 909 (1991). In In re Interest of C.A.A. and V.S.A., 229 Neb. 135, 425 N.W.2d 621 (1988), the mother was diagnosed with borderline intellectual ability and dependent personality disorder. We noted the opinion of a psychologist that in order for the children to be without danger and exist in a situation in which there was a very low likelihood of neglect, the mother would essentially need to have someone acting in a parental role for her. Id. at 137, 425 N.W.2d at 622. The psychologist further testified that the mother's mental condition will continue for a prolonged and indeterminate period and that the dependent personality disorder was by definition a longterm pervasive and relatively unchanging diagnosis. Id. at 137, 425 N.W.2d at 623. This court affirmed the termination of the mother's parental rights pursuant to § 43-292(5), stating that [a]lthough termination of parental rights may sometimes appear cruel or harsh, experience has shown that failure to terminate parental rights in appropriate cases simply punishes the child for the uncorrectable deficiencies of the parents, thereby extending the same problems and conditions into successive generations. Id. at 138-39, 425 N.W.2d at 623. In re Interest of D.L.S., 230 Neb. 435, 432 N.W.2d 31 (1988), also presented a factual situation that was extremely similar to that in the instant case. In that case, the father abused the child, and the mother was diagnosed with a dependent personality disorder. Id. Two psychological experts expressed concern that the mother would inevitably choose a boyfriend or husband who would take control and potentially harm the child. Id. One expert testified that with up to 2 years of therapy, the mother could overcome her disorder, while the other expert testified that the condition was potentially treatable with long-term therapy over an indeterminate period of time. Id. We determined that a mental deficiency, as used in § 43-292(5), included an impairment in capacity such that a parent was unable to profit from instruction and acquire parenting skills. Id. We concluded that even to the extent the disorder is theoretically treatable, assuming that to mean it is curable, the record tells us that the treatment would extend over an indeterminate period. The only concrete suggestion is that treatment would take another 2 years. We cannot gamble away an additional 2 years of this child's life on the speculative hope that the mother can overcome the deficiency which she, albeit through no fault of her own, brought to motherhood. As we have noted in the past, a child cannot, and should not, be suspended in foster care, nor be made to await uncertain parental maturity. Id. at 445, 432 N.W.2d at 38. As detailed above, the record in the instant case contains ample testimony from psychological experts, stating that Angel suffers from personality disorders which render her unable to adequately protect her children and that these disorders will take years to treat, if they can in fact be successfully treated at all. This record provides clear and convincing evidence that Angel's personality disorder prevents her from discharging parental responsibilities and that she cannot be rehabilitated within a reasonable period of time.