Maya Kowalski And the Countless Victims of Dr. Sally Smith's 'Judgement'
Nov 10, 2023, 06:00 PM
It's every parent's nightmare: a medical institution diagnosing their child, and then a subsequent loss of custody based on questionable claims. But when the institutions you trust begin to make unverifiable assumptions about parents, what remains of justice? On a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast with Tony Brueski, a concerning pattern emerged during a conversation with Trial Consultant and Body Language Expert, Susan Constantine.
Brueski broached a concerning topic regarding Dr. Smith, whose role at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital appeared to be absent of the checks and balances we often associate with justice. This lack of oversight led Constantine to reveal a startling connection. "Okay. So there is a route to all of this," she began. In Orlando, a psychological firm wrote a book on Munchausen's by proxy disorder. Constantine noted that despite it being a rare condition, there's been a significant influx of women diagnosed in that area.
Contrary to the conventional understanding of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, where a guardian may fake a child's illness, these mothers are accused of the opposite – trying to help their children recover from genuine health issues.
Constantine goes on to claim, "Here is the person that wrote this book that literally removed the children from my dear friend of 40 years." Though she is able to read people well, being a body language expert, she has seen no signs of Munchausen's by proxy disorder in her friend. Instead, she describes an alarming pattern in which women, primarily mothers, are being wrongly diagnosed by a forensic psychologist, now colloquially termed as "Dr. XYZ moms".
This chain of diagnosis and removal of children has extensive implications, particularly in child custody battles. "The courts say you have to go through counseling for co-parenting... and whoever it is that has the biggest, widest pockets," Constantine explains. Those with more financial means, typically fathers, can exploit this diagnosis to gain full custody of their children. With the false diagnosis of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, mothers are effectively removed from their children's lives, permanently.
Complicating the matter further is the monetization of this system. This Orlando-based firm, according to Constantine, charges large sums for evaluations, leaving countless families grappling with not only the loss of their children but significant financial burdens as well.
Brueski's probing question about the motive behind such actions illuminates a larger issue. "Is this something where overall there needs to be reform in the entire system?" he asks. Indeed, Constantine points to the formation of collaborative law groups that control a significant portion of these processes. These groups, comprised of forensic psychologists and arbitrators for custody battles, form a tightly-knit community. The implication is clear: expose one, and the whole system might collapse.
It's a sobering realization when those tasked with justice seem entwined in questionable practices. Constantine's revelations, interwoven with personal experiences and ties to those affected, paint a disturbing picture. One where justice isn't just blind; it might also be compromised.
At the heart of this narrative is the issue of training, or rather the lack of it. Constantine describes her experience with training workers in the Department of Children and Families. Their lack of expertise and inadequate training leaves them ill-equipped to handle sensitive family matters, leading to decisions that often rip families apart.
In concluding the interview, Brueski and Constantine shed light on an urgent need for reform and proper training. With families being torn apart based on unverified and often false diagnoses, the question becomes: How many more lives will be shattered before the system rights its wrongs?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
Brueski broached a concerning topic regarding Dr. Smith, whose role at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital appeared to be absent of the checks and balances we often associate with justice. This lack of oversight led Constantine to reveal a startling connection. "Okay. So there is a route to all of this," she began. In Orlando, a psychological firm wrote a book on Munchausen's by proxy disorder. Constantine noted that despite it being a rare condition, there's been a significant influx of women diagnosed in that area.
Contrary to the conventional understanding of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, where a guardian may fake a child's illness, these mothers are accused of the opposite – trying to help their children recover from genuine health issues.
Constantine goes on to claim, "Here is the person that wrote this book that literally removed the children from my dear friend of 40 years." Though she is able to read people well, being a body language expert, she has seen no signs of Munchausen's by proxy disorder in her friend. Instead, she describes an alarming pattern in which women, primarily mothers, are being wrongly diagnosed by a forensic psychologist, now colloquially termed as "Dr. XYZ moms".
This chain of diagnosis and removal of children has extensive implications, particularly in child custody battles. "The courts say you have to go through counseling for co-parenting... and whoever it is that has the biggest, widest pockets," Constantine explains. Those with more financial means, typically fathers, can exploit this diagnosis to gain full custody of their children. With the false diagnosis of Munchausen's by proxy disorder, mothers are effectively removed from their children's lives, permanently.
Complicating the matter further is the monetization of this system. This Orlando-based firm, according to Constantine, charges large sums for evaluations, leaving countless families grappling with not only the loss of their children but significant financial burdens as well.
Brueski's probing question about the motive behind such actions illuminates a larger issue. "Is this something where overall there needs to be reform in the entire system?" he asks. Indeed, Constantine points to the formation of collaborative law groups that control a significant portion of these processes. These groups, comprised of forensic psychologists and arbitrators for custody battles, form a tightly-knit community. The implication is clear: expose one, and the whole system might collapse.
It's a sobering realization when those tasked with justice seem entwined in questionable practices. Constantine's revelations, interwoven with personal experiences and ties to those affected, paint a disturbing picture. One where justice isn't just blind; it might also be compromised.
At the heart of this narrative is the issue of training, or rather the lack of it. Constantine describes her experience with training workers in the Department of Children and Families. Their lack of expertise and inadequate training leaves them ill-equipped to handle sensitive family matters, leading to decisions that often rip families apart.
In concluding the interview, Brueski and Constantine shed light on an urgent need for reform and proper training. With families being torn apart based on unverified and often false diagnoses, the question becomes: How many more lives will be shattered before the system rights its wrongs?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