Jefferson County Department of Human Resources v. M.A.D.

Case Number: CL-2024-0397

Judge: Not Available

Court: Juvenile Court, Jefferson County, Alabama

Plaintiff's Attorney: Jefferson County, Alabama District Attorney's Office

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Birmingham, Alabama family law lawyer represent parents in a termination of parental rights action.

"The parents maltreated [L.A.D.] by failing to seek medical treatment for a year and a half after [she] ingested lye. The parents were aware that [L.A.D.] was in need of medical attention and willfully neglected their responsibility to seek appropriate treatment for her until such time as she was within hours to a day of death. As a result of the parent[s'] willful neglect, [L.A.D.] has permanent damage to her esophagus, underwent multiple surgeries, suffered significant pain, and must use a g tube to receive proper nutrition. The father continues to express his belief as it relates to the current condition of [L.A.D.] and her ability to maintain appropriate nutrition without the use of a g-tube, despite being informed by medical professionals that she must use a [gastrostomy tube ("g-tube")] now[] and will likely need one for the rest of her life. Proper medical care is essential to maintaining the health of [L.A.D.], and ongoing medical care is absolutely necessary.

"The parents have consistently expressed that they believe medical intervention and care are unnecessary, except in emergencies. They have shown through their actions for years that they do not seek appropriate medical or dental attention for themselves or their children. While they indicated they had changed their views regarding medical intervention at the [termination-of-parental-rights] trial[,] they are not credible. Upon consideration of their history of contrary statements, their history [of] failing to seek medical treatment for their children, including during the pendency of this case, their demeanor and facial expressions at trial, as well as their contradicting statements in this matter, their veracity is questionable at best. This Court found them to be untruthful multiple times during the trial.

Outcome: Parental rights terminated.

Affirmed

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Defendant's Experts:

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