mixed feelings on bad news
i got the news that yesterday the son of some friends of my parents' from church had broken his leg. he is very young, 2 at most. they rushed him to the hospital. when they got there he was admitted quickly and they got in to see a doctor almost immediately.
after a cursory examination, the hospital called the police suspecting child abuse.
now, abuse is something which i think has touched everyone's lives, either directly through their own experiences or else indirectly through the experience of people they know. and sometimes people are victims and no one ever knows or suspects they are being abused, and sometimes people are abusive and no one ever would think they were capable of abusing others.
however, even though it is possible that abuse can occur in places least expected, i can't for the life of me believe that this couple would ever abuse their children. in addition to their son, they have a daughter who is about 8 or 9 i believe. she is a happy, well adjusted child, outgoing and friendly. these people are deeply involved in the church and my parents have known them for years. i think that the hospital took unnecessary measures and that this couple is being accused of something that has absolutely no foundation.
on the other hand, i can't fault the hospital for making such a judgement call. while i can't imagine the hell that this couple is going through facing allegations of abuse, and while i can't imagine what it would be like to be a loving parent accused of abusing my own child, i can understand the basis for such actions. i think that they had to make a judgement on the situation as it presented itself and that the doctor believed he was acting in the very best interest of the child. i think that the doctor believed if abuse was a possible cause it had to be investigated for the sake of the child. but even though i can understand the point of view of the doctor and i can understand his actions, i still can't believe that someone my family is close to is being investigated for child abuse.
i don't know what to think. i do not believe that this couple abuses their children. and although i am appalled that they have to go through this, i can not say in good conscience that the doctor acted irrationally or irresponsibly. this is one of those things that i think "always happened to other people" and having it happen so close to home has shocked me. my family still hasn't heard anything since being told about the little boy going to the hospital. but i think i will know more by tomorrow. and i pray that everything is going to be okay.
after a cursory examination, the hospital called the police suspecting child abuse.
now, abuse is something which i think has touched everyone's lives, either directly through their own experiences or else indirectly through the experience of people they know. and sometimes people are victims and no one ever knows or suspects they are being abused, and sometimes people are abusive and no one ever would think they were capable of abusing others.
however, even though it is possible that abuse can occur in places least expected, i can't for the life of me believe that this couple would ever abuse their children. in addition to their son, they have a daughter who is about 8 or 9 i believe. she is a happy, well adjusted child, outgoing and friendly. these people are deeply involved in the church and my parents have known them for years. i think that the hospital took unnecessary measures and that this couple is being accused of something that has absolutely no foundation.
on the other hand, i can't fault the hospital for making such a judgement call. while i can't imagine the hell that this couple is going through facing allegations of abuse, and while i can't imagine what it would be like to be a loving parent accused of abusing my own child, i can understand the basis for such actions. i think that they had to make a judgement on the situation as it presented itself and that the doctor believed he was acting in the very best interest of the child. i think that the doctor believed if abuse was a possible cause it had to be investigated for the sake of the child. but even though i can understand the point of view of the doctor and i can understand his actions, i still can't believe that someone my family is close to is being investigated for child abuse.
i don't know what to think. i do not believe that this couple abuses their children. and although i am appalled that they have to go through this, i can not say in good conscience that the doctor acted irrationally or irresponsibly. this is one of those things that i think "always happened to other people" and having it happen so close to home has shocked me. my family still hasn't heard anything since being told about the little boy going to the hospital. but i think i will know more by tomorrow. and i pray that everything is going to be okay.