How Many Uneducated Child Welfare 'Officials' Have Carte Blanche to Destroy Families?
Oct 12, 2023, 11:00 PM
In a heart-wrenching episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, host Tony Brueski and guest, Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine, dove deep into a haunting tale of misdiagnosis, systemic failures, and profound loss. Their discussion prompts a disturbing question: Are some children being taken away from their loving homes based on misunderstandings and flawed assessments?
Brueski paints a grim picture of the situation, noting, “We have so many issues, it seems with CPS. And things not being taken action on, and children being left in horrific situations. What is going on here where we have kids that literally have good homes...ripped out of their parents arms when they need the most?”
Constantine's connection to this issue is deeply personal. She recounts the story of a close friend whose children were forcibly removed because of a misdiagnosis: Munchausen's by proxy disorder. The disorder, in its essence, is when a caregiver or parent fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a person under their care for attention or other gains. However, as Constantine points out, it was “debunked almost five years ago” and is now referred to as a "fictitious disorder."
This leads to the harrowing account of Maya Kowalski, a child experiencing excruciating pain that baffled medical professionals. As her mother sought answers and treatments both within the United States and beyond, she was met with skepticism and mistrust. Despite the mother's attempts to articulate her daughter's journey and the treatments she'd discovered, it was misconstrued as over-medicalization. Ultimately, it led to a tragic end with Maya's mother succumbing to despair and taking her own life.
One of the most chilling aspects discussed is the potential for a financial incentive in removing children from their homes. Vinnie Politan, as mentioned by Constantine, explored this on Court TV. But beyond financial motives lies the broader issue of trust in so-called "expert" assessments. Constantine expressed her frustration, saying, “it’s mind-blowing to me that we are getting to a place where these authorities that are so-called experts are trained...and diagnosing or to see the symptoms of abuse and how wrong they can be.”
Dr. Chopra, a pain medical doctor who testified in a related trial, painted a picture of the severity of Maya's pain, emphasizing that it surpassed that of childbirth, cancer, or even amputation. How could a parent, desperate for relief for their child, be so grossly misunderstood?
One figure repeatedly mentioned in the podcast is Dr. Sally Smith, who diagnosed several cases as Munchausen's by proxy, including Maya's and a runner-up from American Idol. This, as Constantine states, represents a "real problem" with officials "taking matters into their own hands, causing so much distress, anxiety, endangerment, mental and physical, to these children."
Towards the end of the episode, listeners are reminded of the profound humanity at the heart of this issue. Constantine recounts a moving encounter outside a courtroom with Maya's grieving family. The group, united by shared pain, found solace in praying together, a moment that underscored the very real emotional toll of these systemic issues.
In light of this conversation, we are left to grapple with the complex interplay of medical, societal, and bureaucratic factors that can have devastating impacts on families. Yet, as Brueski and Constantine demonstrate, there is also space for empathy, understanding, and a collective call to action.
As we reflect on the issues discussed, we are left with a haunting question: How many more families must suffer before systemic changes are implemented?
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Brueski paints a grim picture of the situation, noting, “We have so many issues, it seems with CPS. And things not being taken action on, and children being left in horrific situations. What is going on here where we have kids that literally have good homes...ripped out of their parents arms when they need the most?”
Constantine's connection to this issue is deeply personal. She recounts the story of a close friend whose children were forcibly removed because of a misdiagnosis: Munchausen's by proxy disorder. The disorder, in its essence, is when a caregiver or parent fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a person under their care for attention or other gains. However, as Constantine points out, it was “debunked almost five years ago” and is now referred to as a "fictitious disorder."
This leads to the harrowing account of Maya Kowalski, a child experiencing excruciating pain that baffled medical professionals. As her mother sought answers and treatments both within the United States and beyond, she was met with skepticism and mistrust. Despite the mother's attempts to articulate her daughter's journey and the treatments she'd discovered, it was misconstrued as over-medicalization. Ultimately, it led to a tragic end with Maya's mother succumbing to despair and taking her own life.
One of the most chilling aspects discussed is the potential for a financial incentive in removing children from their homes. Vinnie Politan, as mentioned by Constantine, explored this on Court TV. But beyond financial motives lies the broader issue of trust in so-called "expert" assessments. Constantine expressed her frustration, saying, “it’s mind-blowing to me that we are getting to a place where these authorities that are so-called experts are trained...and diagnosing or to see the symptoms of abuse and how wrong they can be.”
Dr. Chopra, a pain medical doctor who testified in a related trial, painted a picture of the severity of Maya's pain, emphasizing that it surpassed that of childbirth, cancer, or even amputation. How could a parent, desperate for relief for their child, be so grossly misunderstood?
One figure repeatedly mentioned in the podcast is Dr. Sally Smith, who diagnosed several cases as Munchausen's by proxy, including Maya's and a runner-up from American Idol. This, as Constantine states, represents a "real problem" with officials "taking matters into their own hands, causing so much distress, anxiety, endangerment, mental and physical, to these children."
Towards the end of the episode, listeners are reminded of the profound humanity at the heart of this issue. Constantine recounts a moving encounter outside a courtroom with Maya's grieving family. The group, united by shared pain, found solace in praying together, a moment that underscored the very real emotional toll of these systemic issues.
In light of this conversation, we are left to grapple with the complex interplay of medical, societal, and bureaucratic factors that can have devastating impacts on families. Yet, as Brueski and Constantine demonstrate, there is also space for empathy, understanding, and a collective call to action.
As we reflect on the issues discussed, we are left with a haunting question: How many more families must suffer before systemic changes are implemented?
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com