Baby died after agencies 'failed to see signs'
Manawatu Standard Last updated 12:00 13/02/2010 EYES: A rare photo of baby Cohen Parker appeared on his memorial service sheet.Relevant offers
Signals that baby Cohen Parker wasn't in an ideal foster home weren't picked up in the weeks before his death in Palmerston North last March.
His death was "a nightmare" for everyone involved in his short life, said coroner Tim Scott, delivering his decision yesterday after an inquest a week ago.
The 11-week-old boy, born five weeks premature, exposed to methadone during pregnancy and placed in state care after his birth, died from sudden infant death syndrome in his foster mother's bed.
Mr Scott said the deterioration of the foster mother's standards of housekeeping and breakdown of her marriage were clues she was under stress and perhaps not the best possible placement for Cohen.
"His mum and the rest of us were entitled to conclude that he would be kept safe.
"He was a child at risk and may well have succumbed to cot death in any event.
"But had any of the factors been recognised there is a real likelihood that he would not have suffered death at this time and would not have been in the care of [his foster mother]."
The names of his mother and foster mother have been permanently suppressed.
Mr Scott said it was regrettable the foster mother "deliberately withheld" information from foster care agency Open Home Foundation.
Her marriage was in trouble and she separated a month after Cohen was placed in her home.
It was highly unlikely an at-risk baby would have been placed in a family already under stress, he said.
Mr Scott was concerned that the foster mother had worked part-time despite the foundation's instructions that she should not do so.
He also found it "unusual" that she had approached a virtual stranger and suggested she could babysit although she hadn't been approved as a caregiver.
The fact that the foster mother's home had once been described as "clean and tidy" but had plunged into "a shambles" while Cohen was in her care should have alerted social workers that the woman was unable to manage.
On the morning of Cohen's death, the foster mother took him into her bed for comfort, and settled him in a way she believed dealt with the risks of roll-together or suffocation.
But she didn't clearly understand that bed-sharing was a risk factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids), the coroner said.
The Open Home Foundation has re-written its policy and manual to explain that risk in support of its rules that foster children should have their own beds at all times.
Ad Feedback Mr Scott extended sympathy to Child, Youth and Family and Open Home Foundation workers and the foster mother.
"People set out with the best of intentions to keep baby Cohen safe."
The baby's mother and family were due twice the sympathy.
"I can't begin to imagine the grief all of those people must feel."
He hoped there was some comfort in knowing that systems had been improved as a result of Cohen's death.
SAD REMINDER FOR GRANDMA
A little girl just starting to take her first steps provides a sad reminder for a grandmother of what Cohen Parker would be doing now, if he had not died in foster care last March.
The grandma, who can't be named to protect the identity of Cohen's mother, had only one, brief cuddle and chance to give her grandson his bottle when he was three-and-a-half weeks old.
"I wish I had been able to see him more often."
But the baby was placed in state care, separated from birth parents deemed incapable of looking after him, and entrusted to a foster mum.
"For us, 2009 should have been a good year.
"We were getting two new grandchildren in January, but it went downhill from there.
"At least my husband's granddaughter is doing well and is just about walking so she is a reminder of what Cohen should have been doing."
The woman said she didn't blame Cohen's foster mother or the people from the Open Home Foundation who had placed Cohen in her care.
"But I think now, it would have been better to have put him with someone who had a better knowledge of the needs of a premature, at-risk baby," she said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3324466/Baby-died-after-agencies-failed-to-see-signs
Isabella Brooke Knightly and Austin Gamez-Knightly
In Memory of my Loving Husband, William F. Knightly Jr. Murdered by ILLEGAL Palliative Care at a Nashua, NH Hospital
In the 221st State District Court of Montgomery Co, TX, Judge Suzanne Stovall massacred me in a 3¼ year custody case for my, now, 6½ y/o daughter.
ReplyDeleteConvicted child molesters have more access to their children than I do.
Calls, letters, & gifts are intercepted, & I have no visitation.
The mother secreted her 2mo & 14mo babies, 1200 miles from their father, & for 15½ years, her family prevented all contact.
The mother’s 18 year history/pattern of hostility, alienation, & medical mistreatment was well documented to evaluating psychologist Dr Edward G Silverman, therapist Theresa Burbank, ad litem Lynn T Coleman, the attorneys, et.al.
Despite months of exams & x-rays by pediatricians & specialists, for a real & progressing condition, & prescribing increasingly invasive treatment, the mother, Edward G Silverman, Theresa Burbank, Lynn Coleman, Elaine Baggerley of CPS, & Judge Suzanne Stovall, refused to believe the diagnosis of the medical professionals & necessity for treatment.
Even after receiving the medical records & speaking with the medical professionals, they persisted in their false beliefs despite the invalidating evidence, continuing to Aid & Abet Injury to a Child.
A specialist repeatedly requested the mother & Lynn Coleman, attend the appointments, but they refused.
Even with the mother’s sworn statements of medically abusing/neglecting our daughter & with the doctors corroborating records of her mistreatment, Judge Suzanne Stovall took my daughter from me & placed her into the mother’s sole custody.
Symptoms persisted, but her condition is withheld.
Since infancy, the mother has secreted our daughter to doctors, & medically mistreated her.
From 2006 to 2008, the mother yo-yoed our daughter on steroids.
She has neglected her dental care.
The mother has a history & pattern of medically mistreating her other children with steroids, psychiatric drugs, numerous prescription & OTC medicines, & they have had significant dental issues due to her neglect.
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Judge Suzanne Stovall signed a Final Decree to remove me from my daughter, without a trial, without my signature, without my lawyer's signature, & without compelling the mother’s (plaintiff) discovery.
Despite 3 years of Hearings, Rule 11’s, hundreds of emails/letters/conversations, Judge Suzanne Stovall refused to compel the mother’s discovery, yet granted years of continuances because her discovery was incomplete; including continuing a preferentially set trial.
All knew how devastating her discovery would be & Judge Suzanne Stovall refused to compel.
Judge Suzanne Stovall inconsistently ruled on motions, laws, or rules to favor the mother.
My lawyers complained that she favored the mother.
Judge Suzanne Stovall ignored the overwhelming certified/certifiable evidence of violence/hostility/aggression/abuse by the mother, her family, & her friends.
Judge Suzanne Stovall disregarded 3+ years & 300+ exhibited provable charges of Contempt against the mother, including failure to pay child support, interfering with child custody, & worse.
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I paid the jury fee, & for 3 years, pleaded in vain for a trial or in some way to present a case.
Judge Suzanne Stovall punished me with over 20% plus $100, monthly child support.
CISD records, depositions, sworn statements, & other
Certified/Certifiable evidence revealed a home with an AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT FELON, wrist CUTTING, daily VIOLENCE, 15y/o runaway, destruction, criminals, drug abuse (METH, COCAINE, XANAX, OXYCOTIN, etc), many police visits & a SEARCH WARRANT confiscated drug paraphernalia, probation violations, multiple sex partners, suspensions for drugs & violence, burglary, vandalism, shootings, disease, fighting, screaming, profanity, pornography (incl BEASTIALITY)