2 doctors, DSHS sued in death of 7-year-old

2 doctors, DSHS sued in death of 7-year-old

By Maureen O'Hagan

Seattle Times staff reporter


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...deleon08m.html



In his short life, Tyler DeLeon suffered a fractured femur and bruising
up and down his body. He had two front teeth knocked out and bite marks
on his arm.

And he was very, very small. In fact, the longer he lived with his
adoptive mother, Carole DeLeon, the less he grew.

Tyler died of thirst and starvation in 2005, a 7-year-old boy weighing
just 28 pounds.

Carole DeLeon was sentenced to six years in prison last summer for
criminal mistreatment in Tyler's death.

A lawsuit filed Wednesday against the state Department of Social and
Health Services (DSHS) said the agency should have known that Tyler,
along with seven children DeLeon cared for or adopted, was being abused.
Significantly, the suit also names two of Tyler's doctors — his
pediatrician, David Fregeau, and his psychiatrist, Sandra Bremner-Dexter
— who, according to the complaint, were aware of many of his injuries
and his precipitous drop in weight but failed to report these signs of
child abuse to authorities. Other children in DeLeon's care also were
deprived of food but survived.

Both the children's lawyers and the Attorney General's Office say it's
very unusual for doctors to be named in lawsuits of this sort.

"We thought about it long and hard," said Allen Ressler, one of the
children's lawyers.

"This is a set of facts where these guys closed their eyes to the
abuse," added Timothy Tesh, another lawyer for the children.

State law requires doctors, counselors and teachers to report suspected
child abuse.

The assistant attorney general assigned to the case, Jerry Cartwright,
said he had not read the complaint and could not comment on it. Messages
left for the two doctors were not returned.

The lawsuit, along with DSHS records, paints a portrait of a home where
violence was routine, where punishment included withholding food and
where no one came to the rescue until it was too late.

Even before she began caring for Tyler as a foster child in 1998, DeLeon
had lost two of her own children due to allegations of abuse.
Nonetheless, DSHS gave her a foster-care license in 1996.

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Over the years, the DeLeon home was the subject of 23 complaints to
Child Protective Services, according to the lawsuit, but after cursory
investigations, the agency did not find DeLeon had committed abuse.

As Tyler's pediatrician, Fregeau was aware of many of his injuries,
according to the lawsuit. He saw Tyler's size, and how he didn't seem to
grow.

Between 1998 and 2005, when he died, his weight dropped from the 50th
percentile to below the fifth.

Another boy in the home also was systematically deprived of food and
water, according to the lawsuit. His weight dropped from the 95th
percentile to below the fifth. (DeLeon entered an Alford plea to
second-degree criminal mistreatment in that case, meaning she did not
admit guilt but conceded there was enough evidence to convict her.) A
third child, a foster daughter, fell from the 40th percentile to below
the fifth. Fregeau treated those children, too, but didn't report any
suspected abuse, Tesh said.

"He's providing pediatric care to kids that are wasting away before his
eyes," Tesh said. The lawsuit alleges that constitutes medical malpractice.

Bremner-Dexter, Tyler's psychiatrist, knew about his pattern of physical
injuries, as well. She was treating him for behavior problems, one of
which was screaming when he was thirsty. In a 2004 letter to Tyler's
teachers, she told them to respond to his bids for attention by ignoring
him, according to the lawsuit. She did not make reports to CPS, either.

Maureen O'Hagan: 206-464-2562 or

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company





CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAMS....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.


CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...


BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...

Even before she began caring for Tyler as a foster child in 1998, DeLeon
had lost two of her own children due to allegations of abuse.
Nonetheless, DSHS gave her a foster-care license in 1996.

WTF?

Over the years, the DeLeon home was the subject of 23 complaints to
Child Protective Services, according to the lawsuit, but after cursory
investigations, the agency did not find DeLeon had committed abuse.

Of course!
Playing favorites for their ALLIES is gonna bite them in the ass.
....
Bremner-Dexter, Tyler's psychiatrist, knew about his pattern of physical
injuries, as well. She was treating him for behavior problems, one of
which was screaming when he was thirsty. In a 2004 letter to Tyler's
teachers, she told them to respond to his bids for attention by ignoring
him, according to the lawsuit. She did not make reports to CPS, either.

These doctors are SO SCREWED!
Not only big malpractice cash, but they could be
charged CRIMINALLY unless the system players
pull the strings they usually do for insiders!


On Dec 8, 9:07 am, fx wrote:
2 doctors, DSHS sued in death of 7-year-old

By Maureen O'Hagan

Seattle Times staff reporter

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...deleon08m.html

In his short life, Tyler DeLeon suffered a fractured femur and bruising
up and down his body. He had two front teeth knocked out and bite marks
on his arm.

And he was very, very small. In fact, the longer he lived with his
adoptive mother, Carole DeLeon, the less he grew.

Tyler died of thirst and starvation in 2005, a 7-year-old boy weighing
just 28 pounds.

Carole DeLeon was sentenced to six years in prison last summer for
criminal mistreatment in Tyler's death.

A lawsuit filed Wednesday against the state Department of Social and
Health Services (DSHS) said the agency should have known that Tyler,
along with seven children DeLeon cared for or adopted, was being abused.
Significantly, the suit also names two of Tyler's doctors -- his
pediatrician, David Fregeau, and his psychiatrist, Sandra Bremner-Dexter
-- who, according to the complaint, were aware of many of his injuries
and his precipitous drop in weight but failed to report these signs of
child abuse to authorities. Other children in DeLeon's care also were
deprived of food but survived.

Both the children's lawyers and the Attorney General's Office say it's
very unusual for doctors to be named in lawsuits of this sort.

"We thought about it long and hard," said Allen Ressler, one of the
children's lawyers.

"This is a set of facts where these guys closed their eyes to the
abuse," added Timothy Tesh, another lawyer for the children.

State law requires doctors, counselors and teachers to report suspected
child abuse.

The assistant attorney general assigned to the case, Jerry Cartwright,
said he had not read the complaint and could not comment on it. Messages
left for the two doctors were not returned.

The lawsuit, along with DSHS records, paints a portrait of a home where
violence was routine, where punishment included withholding food and
where no one came to the rescue until it was too late.

Even before she began caring for Tyler as a foster child in 1998, DeLeon
had lost two of her own children due to allegations of abuse.
Nonetheless, DSHS gave her a foster-care license in 1996.

advertising

Over the years, the DeLeon home was the subject of 23 complaints to
Child Protective Services, according to the lawsuit, but after cursory
investigations, the agency did not find DeLeon had committed abuse.

As Tyler's pediatrician, Fregeau was aware of many of his injuries,
according to the lawsuit. He saw Tyler's size, and how he didn't seem to
grow.

Between 1998 and 2005, when he died, his weight dropped from the 50th
percentile to below the fifth.

Another boy in the home also was systematically deprived of food and
water, according to the lawsuit. His weight dropped from the 95th
percentile to below the fifth. (DeLeon entered an Alford plea to
second-degree criminal mistreatment in that case, meaning she did not
admit guilt but conceded there was enough evidence to convict her.) A
third child, a foster daughter, fell from the 40th percentile to below
the fifth. Fregeau treated those children, too, but didn't report any
suspected abuse, Tesh said.

"He's providing pediatric care to kids that are wasting away before his
eyes," Tesh said. The lawsuit alleges that constitutes medical malpractice.

Bremner-Dexter, Tyler's psychiatrist, knew about his pattern of physical
injuries, as well. She was treating him for behavior problems, one of
which was screaming when he was thirsty. In a 2004 letter to Tyler's
teachers, she told them to respond to his bids for attention by ignoring
him, according to the lawsuit. She did not make reports to CPS, either.

Maureen O'Hagan: 206-464-2562 or

Copyright (c) 2007 The Seattle Times Company

CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAMS....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...

On Dec 9, 6:21 pm, Greegor wrote:
Even before she began caring for Tyler as a foster child in 1998, DeLeon
had lost two of her own children due to allegations of abuse.
Nonetheless, DSHS gave her a foster-care license in 1996.

WTF?

Over the years, the DeLeon home was the subject of 23 complaints to
Child Protective Services, according to the lawsuit, but after cursory
investigations, the agency did not find DeLeon had committed abuse.

Of course!
Playing favorites for their ALLIES is gonna bite them in the ass.
...

Bremner-Dexter, Tyler's psychiatrist, knew about his pattern of physical
injuries, as well. She was treating him for behavior problems, one of
which was screaming when he was thirsty. In a 2004 letter to Tyler's
teachers, she told them to respond to his bids for attention by ignoring
him, according to the lawsuit. She did not make reports to CPS, either.

These doctors are SO SCREWED!

How is that, greg?

Not only big malpractice cash,

Based on what?

YOUR wet dreams?

but they could be
charged CRIMINALLY unless the system players
pull the strings they usually do for insiders!

You think the psychs have no way out?

Like CPS in Lisa Watkins case?

DS You think the psychs have no way out?

What way out would they have, Dan?

Please post your legal opinion as to their chances!