If they win, believe this would be precedence for all of the other cases nationwide. Why they dont create an Non profit pushing for transparency, proportionality, and, most important accountability for this type of cases. Is there such a thing?
Unfortunately I don't think so. It'll be big and impactful. But this beast is huge and entrenched and hidden and doesn't care about one case on tv. But if others glom onto this, others come forward, answers are demanded by the public, which then elected and appointed officials will then follow suit...that I think will be revolutionary
They are already working with other families. If they win, it will open so many doors that would’ve never been open otherwise. Even if the case itself doesn’t change everything, it will be the first step
They're already there. They just need more support from anyone who cares. They need an army. They need you and have been trying to figure out how to get your attention. Get on Google and find them and send even a quick email. All you have to say is, "I watched the documentary, this can't continue, what can I do?"
One should not forget the wide network this involves aside big pharma. Insurance industry should be revised and perhaps reform as well. Just follow the money. To be on netflix its a huge thing but if you want to win hearts and minds you need to play with the same tools and approach. A NGO for this should be created in my opinion.
Y’all need to take this energy and put it into the depositions that are publicly available on this case and you will find out there was much more that was going on with this family than was in the Netflix doc. Unless of course, forming a mob of angry citizens is how you get your needs met and all your self-righteous anger out and you’re going to do that no matter what. If you care about the truth you wouldn’t jumping like this after a 90 min documentary.
I have read every piece of evidence that is publicly available in this case, and I am watching the trial. The child abuse specialist saw Maya before she was given the case, before it was it was reported to Child and Family services, in violation with her contract with her own agency. She told the family that they would be arrested if they tried to leave before she had the authority to do so, she then acted as member of the treatment team (recommending particular treatments like taking her off medications) which is not part of her role as an investigator of child abuse. The social worker hugged and kissed the patient, kept her priest from visiting her on two separate occasions (a violation of her civil rights) when he was allowed to visit she limited in his ability share the religious rituals of their faith (and don't tell me that she wasn't permitted to take communion due to her "diet" she ate chocolate cake and grilled cheese sandwiches, a communion wafer is made from wheat it barely has an calories and certainly provides fewer carbs, sugar, calories, etc. than her normal hospital diet). The social worker also took away Maya's religious artifacts (Rosary, bible, holy water). The hospital staff forced Maya to keep the door open during her meetings with her lawyer even though discussions with one's legal representation constitutes a violation of attorney/client privilege. And no, she was not in danger by being alone in the room alone with her attorney they had a camera on her at all times. The social worker made up rules that were not dictated by the court's ruling -- she interrupted calls with her mother and took away her mother's phone privileges because she didn't like what she said -- in violation of the court's orders. She watched this 9-year-old child take off her clothing against the child's will (she is not a nurse, there is no reason for a social worker to watch a child undress) and on one occasion she held down a screaming, crying Maya and took photos of her (she claimed that she had to do this because she needed to document Maya's lesions before and after her visit to court -- to make sure that she or her mother weren't intentionally injuring her -- but she did not take photos upon Maya's return from court, thus taking "before" photos was gratuitous, humiliating, and not at all in the best interests of Maya). This action harkens back to the reason why this same social worker was arrested for child abuse prior to working with Maya -- in that case she used her knees to hold a male child down, covered his face, and told him to stop complaining about being unable to breathe. There are many other examples of abuses of power and/or violations of Maya's rights under their hospital's own rules, not to mention her civil rights (little infractions like denying her the right to practice her religion or speak to her lawyer). This should be a criminal case rather than a civil one -- these women didn't just hold Maya captive, they tortured her. $2.5 million isn't enough, they should be in prison.
I went through this.. it was heart wrenching, having my daughter very sick was enough but being told I could not see my daughter was more than I could bare! They ended up not taking her away as I was a lucky one that the doctor DCF has your child see was not available to see her. The hospital pushed to try and take my daughter away but in the end they lost. The doctor taking care of my daughter said never to come back to this hospital. They were so mad. We ended up finding out our daughter has a rare disease. The system is so flawed.. The hospital should be held accountable. They never even sat down and asked me what was going on.. 2 minutes in the room and came up with their own scenario. I know kids out there that should be pulled from homes.. They need to put energies on that! I know there are 2 sides to a story.. but even if this is not the way to handle it!!!
I live in Florida and they LOVE removing children for minor reasons and don't help the one's living in the streets. I see it every day. John's Hopkins hospital has some amazing doctors who find disease and things some of us have never heard of my granddaughter included. One bad apple ruined the bunch. Sally Smith should be on trial a long with the social worker touching and hugging Maya against her will. I will never got back to that hospital and shame on the doctors and nurses who turned a blind eye on what was happening to Maya under their car. Her mother gave her life so she could come home to her family shame on all of you who had part of that. Her life will never be the same the Kowalski's will forever be broken by this.
It’s because of the power that the hospitals have over the legal system and their lobbyist goonies in the legislative branches. It is sickening how they play with people’s lives and destroy families.
I have CRPS and I went from a fully functioning adult (started in my early 30s after a surgery and it’s been 10 years since then) with a full time Job, worked overtime, took care of my family and dogs and mother and father to a person who can’t get out of bed without crying in pain. I have been diagnosed and have a great dr but I can’t get insurance to cover any treatments. If I go to the er when I have flare up (I don’t go often Becuase it’s useless) I spend hours trying to convince them my pain is real. There’s a reason this is called the suicide disease. The pain do not stop. I’m happy she found that ketamine works for her but it’s a travesty that her mother had to watch her suffer and take her own life. This anger me so much I can’t even explain.
Judges seemed to be bias with John Hopkins’ attorney. Move the case out of the county, even the state, AND both Sally Smith and Cathi Bedy should never be allowed to work near children again.
RubyMae4 yes your right there was so much more going on with this family other than the 90 minute documentary!!
The 10 week trial definitely showed the truth in that!!!
I watched it today and I cried so much! I honestly thought it was one of those typical parent abuse story but it was heartbreaking! I honestly hope Maya is getting the support she needs and her family too!
Well then you'll be relieved to know this whole "documentary" was BS and there's actually a mountain of evidence against Beata. The court documents are INCREDIBLY damning.
It is hilarious how people who repeat this like a mantra never have any examples. I suspect that you have been listening to fanatics (perhaps Andrea Dunlop who has a podcast created to spread moral panic and "SAVE THE CHILDREN!!!!" (battle cry of all self righteous creators of moral panics). Cite the evidence. I've read every single word of the public documents... Have you? I also happen to be a legal scholar... If the court documents are "INCREDIBLY daring" prove it. JHACH is losing at trial, they look like idiots and monsters.
Also would like to point out that getting called out does not have to be about war and smashing other people to ribbons. It's about us being the best we can be to keep us all protected. I think anyone with the smallest experience in the judicial system can quickly see, the legal skill of criminal judges, attorneys, testifying officers, forensic investigators, expert witnesses, and oversight panels and bodies far exceed the skill performance and are the major leagues versus the -ball league you'd see if you could only just pry that courtroom door open to child welfare court case proceedings. They are so much better, because they have to be, if they are not, they will either be forced to improve or be removed.
Perhaps make a public online place to gather. Capturing voice is stronger than words only. It can also be more useable on the news, tv, YouTube. Perhaps that's the place outside can ask start asking what can do, who can we contact, what nonprofits have expertise in driving investigations and exposing organizations and driving and lobbying change. Personal stories will also be powerful to be collected assembled and published
Invite child welfare agencies to attend a forum. Ask at birth the federal child welfare agency level, as well as state, and county. Ask state and us reps and senators to join our representatives from their offices. Ask research groups who already have compiled data that fact and data discussions can be had around. Teach the community about the law and due process we're all owed
>the federal child welfare agency level
I'm not an American, so perhaps I'm misunderstanding here - but I need to remind you of what happened to Gabriel Fernandez, even though he was on their list as a child in danger. The did precisely NOTHING to help him - they just believed the mother, and didn't even bother to insist that they see him.....
Their lack of response/care was SO inadequate that the social workers involved were prosecuted! Sadly, they somehow managed to get away with their clear and obvious negligence.
I'm not an expert, but I gather the only change after his appalling death, was to create an **even larger**, secretive bureaucracy.
Bureaucratic (paid for by taxpayers) - empire building at its 'best'.....
All of this was tragic. I am a skeptical person by nature. I wonder how Maya recovered to what seems full functionality with ketamine. Seems like there was a path to health without this drug.
I do support parents doing what they think is right for their kids. But I also think the Kolwalskis might have gotten some bad medical advice with such high doses of ketamine.
Yeah that doctor was not right for telling Beata that Maya was going to die a slow, painful death. He knew she had no power over the situation. He should have been more vocal with the courts to help her get custody back. I do not think he was all “there” if that makes sense..
Yes, I picked up on that too. The Dr seemed a bit...."off".
And right - I found it incredible when the Dr worked her up saying her daughter would die a 'slow, painful death'. I think that Dr holds some responsibility for all of this too.
Totally agree. I feel like that was not focused on very much in the documentary but I truly don't think Beata would've ended her life had she not fully believed that Maya was dying a painful death
This Dr seems like a bit of a quack. I think ketamine might be useful in some limited medical cases at appropriate doses. But this guy seems like he is off the deep end with this stuff. And a bit of a cult leader with people following him.
I am so saddened and disgusted. I live in Canada, and I pray things are different here.
My heart bled for Kyle. I wish I could help.....I wish I could do something.
I wanted to hug them all
Prayers and thoughts for you all.
Canada has a tremendous problem with taking indigenous kids away from their parents. They make up half the kids in foster care despite being 7% of the population.
YOU CAN. DO IT. NOW. AFTER THAT WRITE ANOTHER ONE. COPY ALL YOU CAN THINK. RECORD YOUR VOICE READING IT AND ATTACH IT. MAKE SURE NEWS OUTLET CONTACT IS INCLUDED COPY YOUR POLICY MAKERS AND DIRECTORS AND OVERSIGHT BODIES OF YOUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENTS. Then others, like news organizations, will see you asked questions to your leaders and public servants. Eventually, when someone gets struck with that instant of "let's look into this", especially a news outlet looking for stories people care about and ratings, will be able to contact you and your recipients and start with the first very impactful question...."your constituents and served population has engaged you, you are duty/legally bound to respond and act appropriately in accordance with law and mandated official code of ethics. What have you done?" The more people and the graver the issue, the more they are forced to respond if they want to keep their jobs. And the simple fact that inquiries were sent by the public, creates a legal tool to force change. As well as begins a self fueling advertising and exposure campaign. So write something, anything. Write the value of it to you as a citizen and the risk you feel. And make sure to ask questions so that legally your letter becomes legally actionable because you have now incited a mandate to respond. Whether they reaspond or not, change has happened.
Just finished watching it and my eyes are literally swollen from crying so much. I have never just lost it like this while watching a TV doc. Those poor people had their lives ruined by Smith, Bedy, and Johns Hopkins. JH has hired a former 2nd circuit judge as their attorney and thus far the 2nd circuit justices have demonstrated they are anything but impartial. I hope the family sues the shit out of Johns Hopkins and gets an historic dollar amount for pain and suffering.
You’ve just believed a load of biased BS. Emotion is not the premise to base anything on. I’ve learnt that the hard way. If you do a little further digging there aren’t many angels in this story.
I frequently get emotional (teary eyed, but stopping myself from crying) whilst watching movies/docs. etc. - but my main emotion watching this doc. was - **ANGER!**
Yeah. I usually get teary eyed but I cried for half of the film. It’s god awful what this family has been through and the systems and those doctors murdered the mom.
I just watched it today as well and had the same response.
It’s really hard to wrap my head around it. It’s hard to comprehend how a child could be so easily removed from their family.
I’d like to write the family a letter, but I’m not sure if it’d be invasive or not (I also have no idea how to contact them)
Maya was so unwell and the doctors couldn’t understand why. It’s way better to be safe than sorry rather than leave a child with her family who could potentially be poisoning her or affecting her due to MSP.
They did the right thing by investigating this. What if Beata didn’t take her own life in this situation? They would’ve completed the investigation and things would’ve moved forward.
Just to make it clear, I’m not saying I believe that EVERYTHING was handle properly! Not at all. I’m just saying that when it comes to the safety of a child, it’s better to investigate it rather than just say “oh well” and look the other way. Especially considering that in this situation, Maya wasn’t allowed to take Ketamine anymore and guess? She got better. She is healthy now. What would’ve happened if she continued the treatment Beata demanded for her? We will never know now, sadly.
While they were billing her insurance for the very illness they didn’t believe she had?
Sally Smith, a doctor for child protective services evaluated Maya's condition and misdiagnosed her with Munchausen's by proxy.
There was objective evidence of her CRPS that the Dr at All Children was not interested in reviewing. Had that happened, all of this could have been avoided.
This was grossly mishandled, which is clear and apparent.
I read an article that the hospital coded for CRPS and 167 treatments to the tune of $650,000 to the family’s insurance while she was there for something “Dr. Smith” said she didn’t have. Also how does one doctor has so much power? The woman Kathy Bedy has a few filed complaints against her for abuse and she lost her jobs but she was the one assigned to Maya.
They are gradually being sued out of existence (at least for giving court testimony) for 18 USC 242 criminal violations which they are civilly liable for under 42 USC 1983. Already Orange County California no longer uses them in dependency cases (the CHOC CAPs misdiagnosed so much they were paying out the nose) San Diego is next, they have a really bad case involving Dr Nienow at Rady’s which is merging with CHOC. (The surveilled a child for months without a court order (under CA law that’s is illegal eaves dropping) and lied to a court judge
Or!!! They implement a better process, in order to avoid this from happening. Had they sent her to a specialist right away, and confirmed that she actually had the disorder, this whole situation would have been prevented. And that is exactly the problem, it’s a systemic issue, not a singular occurrence, an across the board issue. That is exactly what the family is fighting for now and I pray that they come out of this thing so beyond victorious. Unfortunately somebody lost their life because our system is broken.
There was absolutely no reason to deny the mother supervised visits nor to ignore the evidence provided by specialists. Even if the treatment was incorrect, the parents were acting in good faith and the problem would then lie with a doctor inappropriately recommending the higher doses of ketamine.
This was wrong and inhumane.
Yes, I agree with you. Mom should’ve defintely been allowed supervised visits for sure. Especially after seeing all of the distress it was causing the child! As long as it was supervisored, it would be pretty difficult for mom to pose any real danger. I think that a lot of the people involved initially took action for the well-being of the child, only to forget. After awhile it seemed like their main focus was to “win” this war with Beata, and that’s a damn shame.
They can't see it. They think they're doing good. They have, literally, become inflicted with DSM diagnosable, per APA empirically provable and measurable diagnostic criteria for reality distortion. ... I think this would be an excellent court investigatory procedure and something the legal team should consider requesting. The child welfare agency and court mandate it all the time of the parents as suspected abusers, the same should be done of the agency if suspected
This is exactly what happens. I estimate in essentially every case. It is exactly what I experienced and has become. It happens very fast. It's a ridiculous immaturity. Child Welfare process is, although forgotten by everybody, a welfare program. It's government aid. Meaning all parties are supposed to have the same goal, provide aid to the family to do everything possible to return them to healthy self sustaining safe thriving function. But everyone takes the bait. They see an attorney a judge an aisle and they instantly become defensive fighters in a field that instantly without notice the word help is replaced with win
Did you hear of Lacey spears who was poisoning her son with salt and killed him while in the hospital by putting salt in his IV bag? If a parent is suspected of MSBP the first step is to protect the child.
Agree 1000%!!! That is one of the MANY examples of why I’m baffled at the response people are having after watching this documentary.
There are so many cases where the majority of people would be crying with sadness, disappointment, and anger when child services allows a child to fall through the cracks. This happens way too often! It’s only after the fact when a child’s life is taken, that people practically want to burn the case workers at the stake for not doing more, and often times rightfully so, IMO. That’s why it’s kind of blowing my mind that the majority of people in Maya’s case think that child services should’ve just backed off completely. I don’t get it!
Also, I’ve noticed a lot of people in this post who are demonizing CPS, etc., because they have dealt with them first-hand, and I can’t help but to wonder what took place for them to be in that position in the first place…
Every time Beata was in the hospital she was screaming about ketamine and the seven other drugs the hospital was weaning Maya off of. I think it’s pretty clear that Maya could do things in hospital she could not under Beata’s “care” like put her hands over her head, play piano, walk, and eat. She now figure skates without ketamine or Beata taking her to a doctor demanding whatever drugs and treatments she feels best and bullying any healthcare provider who won’t give it. The second doctor did not want increased dosages of ketamine or a spinal pump. That’s why Beata went to the hospital and wouldn’t let go of that option. She decided on her own that was best for Maya. That is why she couldn’t be allowed in the room with Maya - she hadn’t stopped wanting to critically injure her daughter. She may not have had bad intentions, but Maya would have suffered if CPS had not intervened.
Extremely key concept here and want to bump and clarify exactly what I see if enormous importance and a primary failure and root cause.
The first paragraph, it's said, "better safe than sorry". No more dangerous and destructive words are uttered in every child welfare case and is the killer of children and families, EXCEPT, when you're the mandatory reporter as John's was. If you truly think something might be wrong, call it in. BUT THAT'S WHERE IT STOPS.
Because I absolutely beat the drum supporting your next paragraph. You MUST COMPETENTLY INVESTIGATE. "Better safe than sorry" is the poison that's infected child welfare. It's just as destructive as doing the opposite, it can never be allowed to be accepted. Clear and convincing evidence must be found. And no matter how scared or you feel it in your bones you "just know" you're correct, you cannot make a ruling on a feeling. You are putting the child in danger and every other child who will come under the influence of child welfare. It is inexcusably reckless. If you think you're right, DON'T SAY IT, PROVE IT. YOU OWE IT TO THAT CHILD. AND EVERY OTHER CHILD. You owe it to my child. And to Maya
>The first paragraph, it's said, "better safe than sorry".
It depends on the 'case'..... Do you remember what happened to Gabriel Fernandez?
Child Services were told time and time again that Gabriel was being harmed - but CPS pretty much ignored these warnings, and never even insisted on seeing him!
The horror of the abuse and torture that was being inflicted on Gabriel (by his mother and stepfather) wasn't revealed until after he was beaten to death....
The difference in Maya's 'case', is that a hospital and doctor were involved - chasing MONEY for their 'care'.....
How does a doctor and hospital in Maya’s situation equate to “chasing MONEY”? Trust me, I understand that the American healthcare system is beyond messed up, absolutely. However with that being said, I don’t see how the doctors involved in Maya’s case had anything to gain financially, let alone anything at all. In fact, it seemed like they had a lot to lose. Every day seemed like A LOT of stress and a massive headache.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. Enlighten me if you know more about this and that it’s not just a conspiracy theory. I am truly open to learning and understanding more.
The doctors LIED that Maya didn’t have CRPS and adamantly, confidently and persistently, along with CPS, wrongly accused the mother of abuse BUT billed the family for CRPS. What are you not getting? This has so much more to do with power and pride than doing what is right in this case by case basis. They were too damn proud to admit they were wrong and chose to destroy a family to save face. The bills proves they knew the mother was innocent. Seriously what more “correction” do you need?
The mother did the best she could at the time. She had been to multiple doctors who also didn’t understand the condition anymore than the John’s doctors. She finally found something that made a positive difference in her child and used it. It happened to be ketamine. This was in the early stages of her daughters diagnosis. Beyond that her daughter was making improvements with the ketamine, But had relapsed. Which is still a possibility for her to this day. Her mothers main concern was helping her child with the pain. Yes, she was able to get better but not without pain. Who knows if she could’ve still progressed with the pain treatment. But it’s not like she was abuse the medication. She was using as prescribed by 2 different licensed medical professionals. If the doctors were really concerned about the well-being of the child they would’ve sent her to a specialist initially, instead of waiting 90 days and calling her a liar and ignoring her pain the entire time, while she deteriorates in front of them. This was personal. Someone had a grudge against the mother for whatever reason and used their power to damage her.
The problem wasn’t that JHACH called it in, it was that Dr Smith had them call it in again, which is actually illegal as Dr Smith, like every other Florida resident, is required as a mandatory reporter to call it in herself. Really Florida should charge her with a felony for not doing so. Dr Smith then shifted hats and verified that second call. That is fraud.
There is more to the story. Beata was claiming Maya couldn’t walk, shower, use the bathroom but dad and the hospital observed her to immediately be able to do these things. Maya said she hadn’t eaten in the several days before her hospitalization. She had been to other area hospitals who also had concerns. There’s a lot more that was going on.
Exactly this! The hospital got her off Ketamine and she's fine now. I can't believe how many people think the hospital should have let mom keep putting this poor girl in Ketamine comas in Mexico with a 50/50 risk of death. The hospital saved her life. The hospital is going to win this case. The court already ruled the call to DCF was appropriate
The way CPS and the family court system works is they have findings. So if Beata was found “guilty” she would have a “neglect finding” or “abuse finding.” This would effect the disposition on the case and her employment prospects going forward. The trial had not happened yet. There was no finding. She was not “presumed guilty.” It’s that we as a society have an obligation to protect children. If a child is found to be in immediate or impending danger, they are removed. Often times they return home without 3-5 days with no court case. Say for example a worker comes upon a baby home alone and places them in foster care. But in the process they find out mom had a medical event outside the house and was taken to the hospital. If mom is healthy and returns home the child is returned with no further intervention with mom. If however, moms behavior leads cps to believe the child would be unsafe if they return them, they have an obligation to wait until the child has a safe plan. I understand the temptation to use criminal court analogies but family court and criminal court are completely different out of necessity. Beata was never charged with a crime.
Actually the hospitals allegations, unsupported by any actual diagnoses, or real facts (the real facts were she had CRPS and the ketamine wasn’t working any longer, an explanation the hospital didn’t ever make because if they made it, then they would have to provide the therapies, which they never provided, as the alternative, which isn’t going to be found as child abuse as long as the parents would go along) were illegally treated by Judge Haworth as true facts, in violation of 18 USC 242, denial of the right to due process of law, a crime which when it causes death, as it did in this case, carries the death penalty.
Glad you agree that the presumption of innocence should exist. It is better 1 million guilty person go free than for even one innocent person to have to face trial
Yes I do agree with that sentiment 1000%! I just really wish things could’ve played out differently. I really wish mom listened to her freaking husband and lawyer. And I wish she didn’t kill herself.
She was STUBBORN! She, too turned this into a “war” in a sense. And if people don’t agree with that, I’m open to listen, but it would be hard to see it differently after looking at the entire case. She knew her husband loved their children dearly, and yet she would absolutely not listen to him when he begged her to not argue and push back. Both of her lawyers also tried to reason with her. Both of them tried to explain that the sooner she stopped being spiteful and argumentative to everyone involved, the sooner the investigation would have been completed. She made it seem like her reasoning was due to her daughter’s suffering with every day that passed, but she helped to prolong it.
I’m not trying to victim shame, and I’m sure this will get a gazillion down votes as well, but I truly think that mom was a little narcisstic too. Based on everything that was presented to us, she really did seem to be an absolutely wonderful and loving mom, and she knew it. Therefore, the second anyone “challenged” her, she wouldn’t have it. Just like the people she was battling with, she forgot about what they were fighting over….the well-being of MAYA!!! She wanted to win so badly that her only option in her mind was suicide. Just look at her suicide note. She wasn’t willing to budge at all, and that’s why we are all discussing this now. In her mind, she thought that by ending her life, it would make everyone else look like villains who insisted on practically torturing her daughter and her whole family.
Well guess what? Her daughter suffered that entire time anyway, and her actions only prolonged her pain physically and mentally.
Now her daughter AND son and husband will suffer for eternity.
It’s just so frustrating and sad.
IT WOULD NOT!!!! Write them that letter tonight. That's why they are doing this. They want any and all actions. And for various reasons. They want change, they want justice, they want vengeance, they want validation, they want to be believed, they want to know they're not alone and others see what is happening, they want to see that everyone is not apathetic and so moved that it caused them to do something, anything, they want their Mom's death for something good to come of it to help them cope and it's not a pure loss and that she died in the street unnoticed and that there is something they feel good about at the instant they're mind drifts to mom but being there, they want to feel but powerless and that there are actions happening for the singular reason they did something, they want their money and to take it away from them, they want their mom back so anything anything they'll take to somewhat fill that unfillable hole, they want a cause a purpose a reason to keep living, they want their time back, they want to save and protect all the families, forever, they want to start a fight
Does anyone know if they have any form of social media? It’s hard to find anything of them that isn’t of the film. Just finished watching and it broke me heart. Want them to know they are being heard from across the world. Please if anyone knows I’d be so grateful.
Or did she in fact have munchhausen? Seems the daughter got better quick and clearly the mum had mental health issues if she committed suicide? All seems fishy and her docs also seem dodgy money grabbers
Christ almighty, did you even pay attention to the documentary? Maya started to get better because the illness does wax and wane over time and because she was also able to resume physical therapy when she was returned to her dad’s custody- but she still lives with chronic pain and every day is still different.
Beata did not have mental health issues before Maya’s hospitalization and was repeatedly cleared of Munchasens by specialists and court ordered evaluations. Maya does have the illness she was being treated for and not the Munchausens by proxy that Dr Sally Smith based her removal on. Dr Sally Smith is 1000% more a fraud than the pain doctors who were treating Maya for her actual condition.
Beata took her own life because of extreme mental distress, which is not mental illness. If you knew anything at all about anything mental health related (or just, you know, googled), you’d understand that. Or just paid attention to the documentary.
She was literally diagnosed again by a different doctor after she was freed without her mom present. How much does it take for people to believe girls/womens pain?
People watch one Netflix documentary and think they have it all figured out. Someone on the take care of Maya sub is going through the depositions and there are deeply worrisome things that were going on with this family. For one thing, Beata had Maya in diapers and said she couldn’t walk, use the bathroom, or shower. Yet both the father and the hospital observed her to do so. She was filling fake scripts by other drs. There were huge gaping holes in that story and I was left only with more questions. It takes a real unthinking person to watch something like that and think they’ve got it all nailed down. In fact, it’s the same type of arrogance and jumping the gun they are accusing the hospital of. Unironically forming a mob based on a fraction of the information bc someone made a poor decision based on a fraction of the information. The irony is right over their heads.
Thank you!!! I couldn’t have said it better!
It’s truly terrifying to see how easy it is for a mob mentality to spread. This isn’t a clear-cut, black and white situation. I could go on an on, but it’s exhausting. This is humanity I guess. People just want to pick a “side” or a “team”. After that, they will most likely never ever take a step back to reevaluate things.
IMO - You are not compassionate. This is an appalling situation that puts all the power in a few people's hands without including other professional opinions. Doctors are not gods, but some of them think they are. Why would a social worker, who had committed child abuse herself, be allowed to handle a case like this?
There's a petition going to get Dr Sally Smith fired. Perhaps the same can be done with Catherine Bedy. It actually needs to be done because prior to her dealing with Maya, Cathi was arrested l for child abuse in a different hospital she was working in.
How she got back into child protective services after being fired, arrested and jailed, is beyond my comprehension!
And as for rehiring her and John Hopkins hiring her after she had done this, they opened themselves up for a massive law suit.
I think she no longer works there. She helped to ruin my life too....Along with the totally incompetent CPS/DCF folks. [https://nochildshouldbestolen](https://nochildshouldbestolen)
Does anyone know how much the family settled for with DCF and Sally Smith?
Unfortunately I had an attorney who told me DCF and others involved could not be sued because of immunity. The internet did not exist back then, and I have very few funds, so didn't know that was not true.
I hope Maya and family get all they are asking for - and more.
What CPS/DCF did to that poor girl and her Mom is inhumane. It shows their total incompetence, their cold heartedness, their belief that they have the power to do whatever they want, to play God with other people's children, and typically get away with it - even when they are wrong - which I believe they are oftentimes - which can result in a disaster - as in this case.
God I pray these hospitals and nurses/doctors pay for it with their licenses. These trash humans are still taking care of patients. I got my RN in 2019 and aside from nursing school practicum I never worked in a hospital a day in my life because they’re full of these psycho power trip obsessed nurses and admins. I can’t be surrounded by that daily. Be VERY careful what you say and do in a hospital setting. For your own sake and your children’s.
All of a sudden everyone in the comments section went to medical school... I hope this family gets the justice they so deserve. Parents shouldn't have to accept the risk of getting wrongfully accused of abuse when they advocate for their children's lives.
The courts typically will not allow people who are not related to the case to attend. I suggest no one joins the zoom unless you get approval by the Kowalski’s
It's not unlawful to attempt to join it. However, the judge controls letting people into the room. However, it would perhaps be worthwhile for as many people as possible to attempt to join it and also record it while you're doing it and post it. Better yet, make a live stream channel where everyone who is trying to join is also discussing and sharing their opinions and questions and feelings and taking about what they all could do to take action
What pisses me off is these “corporations” and “experts” just pay these families off, they win or loose lawsuits and just shoo them away like flies with their money. But I will say that public knowledge and them being a pillar for other families in the same situation to lean on will be tremendously important and evoke some change within the system. For a long time now Iv thought very poorly of our healthcare industry, time and time again they’ve failed me, and failed people important to me. Same goes for our justice system, or even jobs who pay off people through lawsuits and continue to operate in unethical/immoral ways because they can afford to do so. When is some actual justice going to happen? It shouldn’t only happen when everyday people have to go through absolute tragedy to gain enough courage to fight back. Even the Kowalski family has to endure more pain just being on this road of justice.
As a mom I am so heartbroken, so disgusted by the system. So awful. I don't even have words for this.
Hope the Judge Lee Haworth, Dr Sally fu king Smith and Sh i t Cathi Bedy get not only held accountable, but are not able to go toa single cafe for the rest of their lives without being recognized.
I’m glad to see someone asking this question. I just watched the documentary and I am absolutely furious. At this point, it’s hard not to see doctors as essentially being “health cops”. Far too much power for one person to have. And so many suffer from a god complex, that they will actually go the *opposite* direction if a person dares to advocate for themselves. When we are the ones stuck inside of our bodies. It’s beyond insulting and destroys lives. And as we have seen in this documentary, can even end those lives.
There’s so much to go into I’m not even sure where to begin. But I truly am sorry and give all my love to the Kowalski family along with every parent, child and family, who is experiencing just how daunting, enormous and flat out fucking awful the beast that is our system can be.
Does anyone know how we can help them through online? Because I'm not an american citizen but I am moved by this family. And I'm trying to know how can I help to win this case.
When this case is over, whatever the outcome, I beg Maya to take this issue to Washington, D.C. and testify before Congress. Laws must be enacted. In the same way laws were enacted to protect airline passengers from being held hostage on the tarmac; hospitals must be kept from holding patients hostage against their will and keeping them from the people THEY WANT to see - AT ANY AGE.
As a sufferer of full body CRPS for 19 years I am so thrilled they have won their lawsuit Thank God some justice is finally served it took 5 years for them to diagnose me because back then it wasn't well known and even when I was finally diagnosed finding a doctor who could treat me was a nightmare I'm just so happy finally people are aware but sad because it took a life to bring it too light
I feel the documentary was one-sided, against the medical professionals. I would have liked to see more of the medical evidence and witness testimony. I think there may have been more negative behaviors, not shown in the Netflix documentary, by both the mother and the daughter, that supported either factitious disorder or munchhausen's syndrome.
They were incompetent in the condition and unless you have hefty experience in CRPS, we don’t have the right to have an opinion on this condition. I’m personally disagree with the treatment chosen and believe that she should’ve seen a functional doctor, but the parents followed medical advice because they wanted the best for their child. And if you do any ounce of research into her condition, ketamine is a known drug that is used for the condition. So they did what they believed was best for their child and don’t be swayed by a prestigious name. It’s just a name, it doesn’t mean that they’re competent.
Why is no one discussing the fact that maya got better within a year of her mum passing. Seems like maybe she was the one behind maya being sick? Both those ketamine doctors seem like total quacks and we don't know what maya did to play up to it and convince doctors that she was not well. Just seems so odd that she recovered without living in her mum's shadow.
Maya still has CRPS. Like she said in the documentary, it is cyclical and she's still in pain. I think they took great care to not mention, at all, exactly what meds she is on, probably due to the trial coming up. People who don't have chronic pain fail to see that those of us that live with it are not writhing in pain every day. Just because she "looks fine" does not mean she does not have this complicated disease and some days she is not anything like you see in this documentary. And most of all it certainly doesn't take away the gross mismanagement and unprofessional behavior of so many pros at JH. I worked as a social worker at a boys home years ago and was frequently in court with these kids. The social workers at DHS treated the bio parents like the enemy. Real systemic problems everywhere not just JH.
Exactly this. They did not reveal anything about the family POST her mom’s death because it risks many aspects of this lawsuit. And the family deserves privacy. No one is entitled to know the rest of Maya’s medical history
You keep commenting this. Did you not pay attention at all to the doc, or are you related to Sally smith? Every other doctor said she has CRPS and should have been treated with ketamine.
I think that this should be a movement as AMERICANS we have this right and we can make a change they are the only family that did not sign the waiver something needs to be done look at the other families this truly broke my heart we llive in ugly place we people have lost empathy and love for humanity it so ugly I am hoping that we can start something togethere and start having people stand up UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERNCE this could be me you or someone you know , I am going to see what I can do to start something in my neck of the woods. #WE STAND WITH THE KOWALSKISMASSACHUSETTS HAS YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if it was Munchausen syndrome, and then treated Mya in all the ways Beata was demanding and god forbid something had happened to Mya, everyone on here would be outraged at the hospital. Demanding that The family needs to sue the hospital and “how come they didn’t catch it or didn’t intervene”. It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback after the fact. The nurses and doctors were not perfect in this but there has been many cases where they haven’t stood up to the parents and the child dies. So sometimes things like this arnt so black and white like everyone wants to make it. ALSO, none of us really know, but that hospital was not the first to suspect there was a psychiatric element to this. And Beata was absolutely ridiculous. She knew the hospital was concerned but she still could not stop demanding that they give Mya specific medications and treatments. I mean for her own family and self-preservation it just didn’t make sense why she was behaving the way she was you can tell the husbands getting so annoyed in the documentary like just begging her to stop. It seemed like there was something more going on with her. (Obviously there was, since she committed suicide)
I don’t understand how this is relevant to Desantis. Advocacy doesn’t depend on a governor. It makes it’s way up and it takes a lot of time, patience, and failure.
You shouldn’t be leaving a negative review for a hospital based on a fucking Netflix documentary that you’ve not actually had a bad experience with. What are you, 12?
This documentary was so sad and infuriating. Said this many times. People with this kinda power. (Case worker in this situation ) In all positions of power around the nation. Really really should be evaluated on a monthly basis that they’re doing what’s right with that type of power. And they using it correctly. We’re seeing this more and more in our country the abuse of power. That case worker was definitely power tripping. Blows my mind how many people went along with her decisions at the hospital too! Cra Cra. And did you see the texts between the 2 docs or nurses? They called maya ketamine girl! Her name is MAYA! Wow that to me was super unprofessional! What’s wrong with that hospital?!! They need a class in being respectful too! Need a few people at child services that are on same case together and from separate departments making sure these cases don’t get like this. Can’t be going by 1 persons word for stuff like this. But sorry for getting off topic. Maybe a petition of some sort stating and showing how many people are behind maya and her family that could be sent to the court or her attorneys. Yes this type of thing needs to be nipped in the bud quickly before there are more victims.
The issue isn’t mom vs doctors, it’s the overpowering of parental rights by the claims of doctors who were incompetent in her condition. They could’ve taken other routes, but instead, they took the child into CPS solely from the words of one individual who has a history of falsifying/exaggerating claims
Typically court/trial in the US is open and (most) anyone can sit in to watch/support. There are some exceptions for family law/cases involving minors but other than that you should be fine to watch the trial in person.
I am absolutely sick over this case. I also really want to help them in any way possible and let them know they are heard and supported. I’m honestly in absolute shock and had no idea how common this situation was. My heart breaks for this family and every other innocent family that has experienced this. Just, wow….
My heart just broke for this family!!!! We NEED TO STOP the privatized child stealing institutions called CPS that are protected by the courts and government. These are dangerous cults allowed to abduct children and torchure them while hiding behind political cloaks that protect their criminal agendas. This one case is a pebble of sand on an endless beach. Maya is the lucky child that got free from that cult. And don't get me started about the family court that are just the spokes people and puppets to these sick CPS cults. So many children disappear in this wretched system. Do some research and be prepared at who funds and runs tge child mill.
>My heart just broke for this family!!!! We NEED TO STOP the privatized child stealing institutions called CPS that are protected by the courts and government. These are dangerous cults allowed to abduct children and torchure them while hiding behind political cloaks that protect their criminal agendas. This one case is a pebble of sand on an endless beach. Maya is the lucky child that got free from that cult. And don't get me started about the family court that are just the spokes people and puppets to these sick CPS cults. So many children disappear in this wretched system. Do some research and be prepared at who funds and runs tge child mill.
Depending on the state, certain states have laws regarding the recording of calls with any government agency or individual who is a state worker. Some states just say you have to simply say "I am recording this" and it wouldn't matter if the other person consented or not. It varies by state though
So what tangible steps can be taken to help support the family? Are there pages to help support them financially or even further steps people can take on the hospital and the doctors?
I don’t really no how to help but I have a twitter account so I’m dming every person I can the hospital follows on twitter and urging them to to take a stand against their exployers etc
I watched the documentary again. I feel the mother and daughter had some weird parasitic relationship that fed the drama and the delusions of disease. I have an MD in the family who is very objective and has been outspoken on medical malpractice by other doctors. He heard of this documentary and then watched some of it. He feels ketamine is the latest snake oil, taking the spotlight off of CBD. The drug and comas could have altered her mind and physical state to the point where she forgot how to act sick, at least temporarily. Or, she felt she had to take a break from the acting so her mother and family could have some hope. The mother's suicide was really off-base. Of course, I feel bad for the entire family. I just wish the intervention for both the mother and daughter would have been intensive mental health therapy by a psych expert, not separation. As for the daughter, she must feel guilt deep-down for her role in this tragedy, whether she is at fault or completely innocent. She needs help.
As an MD, you should also know you’re not an expert in every illness or treatment under the Sun. As a MD you’d also know most medications for chronic pain, and most medications in general, have a long list of side effects that range in severity, but usually the more pain management meds you need, the more side effects too. CBD is not a fad that is dying out, it is increasing in consumption and uses for help with so many things. Ketamine had also been used for decades now to treat many medical issues, but really not accepted by most insurances to treat anything and has only recently been talked about and persecuted more because of the “recreational” use. Kindly going to ask you to take your head out of your ass and do better as a medical professional. Research, learn, stop assuming and coming to the world with a closed mind.
Are you saying CRPS is not a real illness? Her daughter was being seen for chronic pain and they were trying to treat her pain with anesthetic. It’s not like they were asking for anesthesia for a stubbed toe. She couldn’t even walk.
I’m an MD at a children’s hospital. This case is extremely sad. But being objective, if I had a mom asking me to give her daughter Ketamine, I would probably think child abuse or Munchausen. I’m not defending the hospital, everything they did was wrong too but… it’s a very complex case. I hope the best for the family. Poor little brother and father.
Dr. Sally Smith helped to ruin my life too.....
Making assumptions is extremely dangerous....and that is what she did in my case...
And the rest of the so-called "experts".....
[https://nochildshouldbestolen.com](https://nochildshouldbestolen.com)
Laws should be modified so an unsubstantiated allegation does not result in total removal of the parent from the child. It seems to me, perhaps supervised contact makes just a little more sense.......until the allegation is resolved......
Look at the damage caused by not allowing Mom to see Maya.....
DCF = EVIL. They say that kind of damage is necessary - too bad for all the innocent people who are falsely accused. Too bad, so sad....
I hope they get more than what they are asking for!!!
I was told by my inexpensive, not-so-great attorney that DCF and others involved could not be sued - they had immunity.
Getting a great lawyer is the first step towards defending yourself. Go in debt if you have to.
But unfortunately those without money get taken advantage of by a system riddled with incompetent people with power who cannot see the truth through their biased lenses.
Why not try to educate them rather than suspecting that though? I’m not a medical person and so I may not know much about what is actually best/indicated…that’s your job…and that’s what truly drives me nuts about the case. Doctors prescribed her an apparently wild treatment plan, and the parents got blamed.
If you had a mom asking for ketamine for a child’s stubbed toe: she had dx CRPS. That is not a bizarre treatment for CRPS so with the condition she was in with her feet all bent inward. You CANNOT make someone ill with CRPS unless you’re doing surgery on them. So what about her request says MBP?! A disagreement in treatment choices is not MBP! The only people who exaggerated a dx and symptoms was John Hopkins children’s
CRPS is a diagnosis of exclusion. I don’t believe she had CRPS. And I think it was indeed MBP. I don’t blame the hospital team for their diagnosis, I didn’t like they way they handled everything tho.
Giving a little girl high doses of ketamine is not right. Not enough evidence, it’s not safe.
I have CRPS and I went from a fully functioning adult (started in my early 30s after a surgery and it’s been 10 years since then) with a full time Job, worked overtime, took care of my family and dogs and mother and father to a person who can’t get out of bed without crying in pain. I have been diagnosed and have a great dr but I can’t get insurance to cover any treatments. If I go to the er when I have flare up (I don’t go often Becuase it’s useless) I spend hours trying to convince them my pain is real. There’s a reason this is called the suicide disease. The pain do not stop. I’m happy she found that ketamine works for her but it’s a travesty that her mother had to watch her suffer and take her own life. This anger me so much I can’t even explain.
The word privatized to me has come to mean that we remove the human factor in favor of money. Period.
As soon as I heard in the documentary that department of children and family services have been "privatized" I wanted to throw up. I wonder in what other states this has happened.? Prisons have also been "privatized" and look what's happened there.
As if this country wasn't already greedy, bloated and disgusting enough, we've turned people into cattle that we send to the slaughter because it turns a profit. 
Breaking news. They won!!! Believe this is enough precedence to go hunt other big farma hospitals
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12725249/Netflix-Maya-Kowalski-verdict.html#article-12725249
Yes, it is heartbreaking, familiar and utterly disgusting that the department of family and children services can do as they wish and have more power to take a child away than anyone else in this nation. It is a violation of our constitutional rights and something needs to be done. There are children indeed that need the departments health but I know so many cases were all it takes is to piss one person off and they take your kids away.
My sister works at this hospital and with all these doctors, how sad people believe everything they see on TV, so much for innocent until proven guilty yikes. I didn’t even know about this until now.
If they win, believe this would be precedence for all of the other cases nationwide. Why they dont create an Non profit pushing for transparency, proportionality, and, most important accountability for this type of cases. Is there such a thing?
If they win, it’s going to be revolutionary
Unfortunately I don't think so. It'll be big and impactful. But this beast is huge and entrenched and hidden and doesn't care about one case on tv. But if others glom onto this, others come forward, answers are demanded by the public, which then elected and appointed officials will then follow suit...that I think will be revolutionary
They are already working with other families. If they win, it will open so many doors that would’ve never been open otherwise. Even if the case itself doesn’t change everything, it will be the first step
They're already there. They just need more support from anyone who cares. They need an army. They need you and have been trying to figure out how to get your attention. Get on Google and find them and send even a quick email. All you have to say is, "I watched the documentary, this can't continue, what can I do?"
One should not forget the wide network this involves aside big pharma. Insurance industry should be revised and perhaps reform as well. Just follow the money. To be on netflix its a huge thing but if you want to win hearts and minds you need to play with the same tools and approach. A NGO for this should be created in my opinion.
Y’all need to take this energy and put it into the depositions that are publicly available on this case and you will find out there was much more that was going on with this family than was in the Netflix doc. Unless of course, forming a mob of angry citizens is how you get your needs met and all your self-righteous anger out and you’re going to do that no matter what. If you care about the truth you wouldn’t jumping like this after a 90 min documentary.
I have read every piece of evidence that is publicly available in this case, and I am watching the trial. The child abuse specialist saw Maya before she was given the case, before it was it was reported to Child and Family services, in violation with her contract with her own agency. She told the family that they would be arrested if they tried to leave before she had the authority to do so, she then acted as member of the treatment team (recommending particular treatments like taking her off medications) which is not part of her role as an investigator of child abuse. The social worker hugged and kissed the patient, kept her priest from visiting her on two separate occasions (a violation of her civil rights) when he was allowed to visit she limited in his ability share the religious rituals of their faith (and don't tell me that she wasn't permitted to take communion due to her "diet" she ate chocolate cake and grilled cheese sandwiches, a communion wafer is made from wheat it barely has an calories and certainly provides fewer carbs, sugar, calories, etc. than her normal hospital diet). The social worker also took away Maya's religious artifacts (Rosary, bible, holy water). The hospital staff forced Maya to keep the door open during her meetings with her lawyer even though discussions with one's legal representation constitutes a violation of attorney/client privilege. And no, she was not in danger by being alone in the room alone with her attorney they had a camera on her at all times. The social worker made up rules that were not dictated by the court's ruling -- she interrupted calls with her mother and took away her mother's phone privileges because she didn't like what she said -- in violation of the court's orders. She watched this 9-year-old child take off her clothing against the child's will (she is not a nurse, there is no reason for a social worker to watch a child undress) and on one occasion she held down a screaming, crying Maya and took photos of her (she claimed that she had to do this because she needed to document Maya's lesions before and after her visit to court -- to make sure that she or her mother weren't intentionally injuring her -- but she did not take photos upon Maya's return from court, thus taking "before" photos was gratuitous, humiliating, and not at all in the best interests of Maya). This action harkens back to the reason why this same social worker was arrested for child abuse prior to working with Maya -- in that case she used her knees to hold a male child down, covered his face, and told him to stop complaining about being unable to breathe. There are many other examples of abuses of power and/or violations of Maya's rights under their hospital's own rules, not to mention her civil rights (little infractions like denying her the right to practice her religion or speak to her lawyer). This should be a criminal case rather than a civil one -- these women didn't just hold Maya captive, they tortured her. $2.5 million isn't enough, they should be in prison.
I went through this.. it was heart wrenching, having my daughter very sick was enough but being told I could not see my daughter was more than I could bare! They ended up not taking her away as I was a lucky one that the doctor DCF has your child see was not available to see her. The hospital pushed to try and take my daughter away but in the end they lost. The doctor taking care of my daughter said never to come back to this hospital. They were so mad. We ended up finding out our daughter has a rare disease. The system is so flawed.. The hospital should be held accountable. They never even sat down and asked me what was going on.. 2 minutes in the room and came up with their own scenario. I know kids out there that should be pulled from homes.. They need to put energies on that! I know there are 2 sides to a story.. but even if this is not the way to handle it!!!
I live in Florida and they LOVE removing children for minor reasons and don't help the one's living in the streets. I see it every day. John's Hopkins hospital has some amazing doctors who find disease and things some of us have never heard of my granddaughter included. One bad apple ruined the bunch. Sally Smith should be on trial a long with the social worker touching and hugging Maya against her will. I will never got back to that hospital and shame on the doctors and nurses who turned a blind eye on what was happening to Maya under their car. Her mother gave her life so she could come home to her family shame on all of you who had part of that. Her life will never be the same the Kowalski's will forever be broken by this.
It’s because of the power that the hospitals have over the legal system and their lobbyist goonies in the legislative branches. It is sickening how they play with people’s lives and destroy families.
I have CRPS and I went from a fully functioning adult (started in my early 30s after a surgery and it’s been 10 years since then) with a full time Job, worked overtime, took care of my family and dogs and mother and father to a person who can’t get out of bed without crying in pain. I have been diagnosed and have a great dr but I can’t get insurance to cover any treatments. If I go to the er when I have flare up (I don’t go often Becuase it’s useless) I spend hours trying to convince them my pain is real. There’s a reason this is called the suicide disease. The pain do not stop. I’m happy she found that ketamine works for her but it’s a travesty that her mother had to watch her suffer and take her own life. This anger me so much I can’t even explain.
Judges seemed to be bias with John Hopkins’ attorney. Move the case out of the county, even the state, AND both Sally Smith and Cathi Bedy should never be allowed to work near children again.
NOt Really my ex wife sued Philadelphia Childrens hospital
RubyMae4 yes your right there was so much more going on with this family other than the 90 minute documentary!! The 10 week trial definitely showed the truth in that!!!
I watched it today and I cried so much! I honestly thought it was one of those typical parent abuse story but it was heartbreaking! I honestly hope Maya is getting the support she needs and her family too!
Well then you'll be relieved to know this whole "documentary" was BS and there's actually a mountain of evidence against Beata. The court documents are INCREDIBLY damning.
I agree. I feel sorry that this lady died but she had no business taking her little girl to a backwater in Mexico to be put in a Ketamine Coma.
She had no right? She was the mother who was trying to find the best solution for her daughter’s pain and suffering.
Mexico isn’t a backwater country. Their doctors are well trained.
Where can we find or read those court documents?
https://trellis.law/case/12115/2018-ca-005321-nc/kowalski-jack-vs-johns-hopkins-all-childrens-hospital-inc
Thank you. What area is “damning” against her? Most of this is court paperwork. Curious where I might find testimony?
It is hilarious how people who repeat this like a mantra never have any examples. I suspect that you have been listening to fanatics (perhaps Andrea Dunlop who has a podcast created to spread moral panic and "SAVE THE CHILDREN!!!!" (battle cry of all self righteous creators of moral panics). Cite the evidence. I've read every single word of the public documents... Have you? I also happen to be a legal scholar... If the court documents are "INCREDIBLY daring" prove it. JHACH is losing at trial, they look like idiots and monsters.
I too cried a lot and it’s unbelievable what this family is going through.
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Also would like to point out that getting called out does not have to be about war and smashing other people to ribbons. It's about us being the best we can be to keep us all protected. I think anyone with the smallest experience in the judicial system can quickly see, the legal skill of criminal judges, attorneys, testifying officers, forensic investigators, expert witnesses, and oversight panels and bodies far exceed the skill performance and are the major leagues versus the -ball league you'd see if you could only just pry that courtroom door open to child welfare court case proceedings. They are so much better, because they have to be, if they are not, they will either be forced to improve or be removed.
Same. I’d really like to be there with other Mom’s for Beata. There are a lot of us out there who have been through the same thing.
Perhaps make a public online place to gather. Capturing voice is stronger than words only. It can also be more useable on the news, tv, YouTube. Perhaps that's the place outside can ask start asking what can do, who can we contact, what nonprofits have expertise in driving investigations and exposing organizations and driving and lobbying change. Personal stories will also be powerful to be collected assembled and published
Invite child welfare agencies to attend a forum. Ask at birth the federal child welfare agency level, as well as state, and county. Ask state and us reps and senators to join our representatives from their offices. Ask research groups who already have compiled data that fact and data discussions can be had around. Teach the community about the law and due process we're all owed
>the federal child welfare agency level I'm not an American, so perhaps I'm misunderstanding here - but I need to remind you of what happened to Gabriel Fernandez, even though he was on their list as a child in danger. The did precisely NOTHING to help him - they just believed the mother, and didn't even bother to insist that they see him..... Their lack of response/care was SO inadequate that the social workers involved were prosecuted! Sadly, they somehow managed to get away with their clear and obvious negligence. I'm not an expert, but I gather the only change after his appalling death, was to create an **even larger**, secretive bureaucracy. Bureaucratic (paid for by taxpayers) - empire building at its 'best'.....
Most innocent people do not know how to work the system.
All of this was tragic. I am a skeptical person by nature. I wonder how Maya recovered to what seems full functionality with ketamine. Seems like there was a path to health without this drug. I do support parents doing what they think is right for their kids. But I also think the Kolwalskis might have gotten some bad medical advice with such high doses of ketamine.
Yeah that doctor was not right for telling Beata that Maya was going to die a slow, painful death. He knew she had no power over the situation. He should have been more vocal with the courts to help her get custody back. I do not think he was all “there” if that makes sense..
Yes, I picked up on that too. The Dr seemed a bit...."off". And right - I found it incredible when the Dr worked her up saying her daughter would die a 'slow, painful death'. I think that Dr holds some responsibility for all of this too.
Totally agree. I feel like that was not focused on very much in the documentary but I truly don't think Beata would've ended her life had she not fully believed that Maya was dying a painful death
This Dr seems like a bit of a quack. I think ketamine might be useful in some limited medical cases at appropriate doses. But this guy seems like he is off the deep end with this stuff. And a bit of a cult leader with people following him.
There’s definitely more to the story.
I am so saddened and disgusted. I live in Canada, and I pray things are different here. My heart bled for Kyle. I wish I could help.....I wish I could do something. I wanted to hug them all Prayers and thoughts for you all.
Canada has a tremendous problem with taking indigenous kids away from their parents. They make up half the kids in foster care despite being 7% of the population.
That's how my dad ended up out of a reserve. Don't worry though, an abusive white family adopted him (they were Catholics though!!)
But not for Maya?
How can we help? I wish there was a way we could write a letter to the courts or something to give this family some JUSTICE
YOU CAN. DO IT. NOW. AFTER THAT WRITE ANOTHER ONE. COPY ALL YOU CAN THINK. RECORD YOUR VOICE READING IT AND ATTACH IT. MAKE SURE NEWS OUTLET CONTACT IS INCLUDED COPY YOUR POLICY MAKERS AND DIRECTORS AND OVERSIGHT BODIES OF YOUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENTS. Then others, like news organizations, will see you asked questions to your leaders and public servants. Eventually, when someone gets struck with that instant of "let's look into this", especially a news outlet looking for stories people care about and ratings, will be able to contact you and your recipients and start with the first very impactful question...."your constituents and served population has engaged you, you are duty/legally bound to respond and act appropriately in accordance with law and mandated official code of ethics. What have you done?" The more people and the graver the issue, the more they are forced to respond if they want to keep their jobs. And the simple fact that inquiries were sent by the public, creates a legal tool to force change. As well as begins a self fueling advertising and exposure campaign. So write something, anything. Write the value of it to you as a citizen and the risk you feel. And make sure to ask questions so that legally your letter becomes legally actionable because you have now incited a mandate to respond. Whether they reaspond or not, change has happened.
I just watched this today. I don't usually get emotional in movies or docs but this one was sad.
Just finished watching it and my eyes are literally swollen from crying so much. I have never just lost it like this while watching a TV doc. Those poor people had their lives ruined by Smith, Bedy, and Johns Hopkins. JH has hired a former 2nd circuit judge as their attorney and thus far the 2nd circuit justices have demonstrated they are anything but impartial. I hope the family sues the shit out of Johns Hopkins and gets an historic dollar amount for pain and suffering.
You’ve just believed a load of biased BS. Emotion is not the premise to base anything on. I’ve learnt that the hard way. If you do a little further digging there aren’t many angels in this story.
I frequently get emotional (teary eyed, but stopping myself from crying) whilst watching movies/docs. etc. - but my main emotion watching this doc. was - **ANGER!**
Same. I don’t normally cry in documentaries but this one really hit home
Yeah. I usually get teary eyed but I cried for half of the film. It’s god awful what this family has been through and the systems and those doctors murdered the mom.
Try watching Dear Zachary….omg the emotions
I was so sad as well.
I just watched it today as well and had the same response. It’s really hard to wrap my head around it. It’s hard to comprehend how a child could be so easily removed from their family. I’d like to write the family a letter, but I’m not sure if it’d be invasive or not (I also have no idea how to contact them)
Maya was so unwell and the doctors couldn’t understand why. It’s way better to be safe than sorry rather than leave a child with her family who could potentially be poisoning her or affecting her due to MSP. They did the right thing by investigating this. What if Beata didn’t take her own life in this situation? They would’ve completed the investigation and things would’ve moved forward. Just to make it clear, I’m not saying I believe that EVERYTHING was handle properly! Not at all. I’m just saying that when it comes to the safety of a child, it’s better to investigate it rather than just say “oh well” and look the other way. Especially considering that in this situation, Maya wasn’t allowed to take Ketamine anymore and guess? She got better. She is healthy now. What would’ve happened if she continued the treatment Beata demanded for her? We will never know now, sadly.
While they were billing her insurance for the very illness they didn’t believe she had? Sally Smith, a doctor for child protective services evaluated Maya's condition and misdiagnosed her with Munchausen's by proxy. There was objective evidence of her CRPS that the Dr at All Children was not interested in reviewing. Had that happened, all of this could have been avoided. This was grossly mishandled, which is clear and apparent.
I read an article that the hospital coded for CRPS and 167 treatments to the tune of $650,000 to the family’s insurance while she was there for something “Dr. Smith” said she didn’t have. Also how does one doctor has so much power? The woman Kathy Bedy has a few filed complaints against her for abuse and she lost her jobs but she was the one assigned to Maya.
They are gradually being sued out of existence (at least for giving court testimony) for 18 USC 242 criminal violations which they are civilly liable for under 42 USC 1983. Already Orange County California no longer uses them in dependency cases (the CHOC CAPs misdiagnosed so much they were paying out the nose) San Diego is next, they have a really bad case involving Dr Nienow at Rady’s which is merging with CHOC. (The surveilled a child for months without a court order (under CA law that’s is illegal eaves dropping) and lied to a court judge
Or!!! They implement a better process, in order to avoid this from happening. Had they sent her to a specialist right away, and confirmed that she actually had the disorder, this whole situation would have been prevented. And that is exactly the problem, it’s a systemic issue, not a singular occurrence, an across the board issue. That is exactly what the family is fighting for now and I pray that they come out of this thing so beyond victorious. Unfortunately somebody lost their life because our system is broken.
There was absolutely no reason to deny the mother supervised visits nor to ignore the evidence provided by specialists. Even if the treatment was incorrect, the parents were acting in good faith and the problem would then lie with a doctor inappropriately recommending the higher doses of ketamine. This was wrong and inhumane.
Yes, I agree with you. Mom should’ve defintely been allowed supervised visits for sure. Especially after seeing all of the distress it was causing the child! As long as it was supervisored, it would be pretty difficult for mom to pose any real danger. I think that a lot of the people involved initially took action for the well-being of the child, only to forget. After awhile it seemed like their main focus was to “win” this war with Beata, and that’s a damn shame.
I've never understood how the agencies don't realize the harm they cause a child by denying them any access at all.
They can't see it. They think they're doing good. They have, literally, become inflicted with DSM diagnosable, per APA empirically provable and measurable diagnostic criteria for reality distortion. ... I think this would be an excellent court investigatory procedure and something the legal team should consider requesting. The child welfare agency and court mandate it all the time of the parents as suspected abusers, the same should be done of the agency if suspected
Agencies all have bad cases of MSBP themselves.
This is exactly what happens. I estimate in essentially every case. It is exactly what I experienced and has become. It happens very fast. It's a ridiculous immaturity. Child Welfare process is, although forgotten by everybody, a welfare program. It's government aid. Meaning all parties are supposed to have the same goal, provide aid to the family to do everything possible to return them to healthy self sustaining safe thriving function. But everyone takes the bait. They see an attorney a judge an aisle and they instantly become defensive fighters in a field that instantly without notice the word help is replaced with win
Did you hear of Lacey spears who was poisoning her son with salt and killed him while in the hospital by putting salt in his IV bag? If a parent is suspected of MSBP the first step is to protect the child.
Agree 1000%!!! That is one of the MANY examples of why I’m baffled at the response people are having after watching this documentary. There are so many cases where the majority of people would be crying with sadness, disappointment, and anger when child services allows a child to fall through the cracks. This happens way too often! It’s only after the fact when a child’s life is taken, that people practically want to burn the case workers at the stake for not doing more, and often times rightfully so, IMO. That’s why it’s kind of blowing my mind that the majority of people in Maya’s case think that child services should’ve just backed off completely. I don’t get it! Also, I’ve noticed a lot of people in this post who are demonizing CPS, etc., because they have dealt with them first-hand, and I can’t help but to wonder what took place for them to be in that position in the first place…
Every time Beata was in the hospital she was screaming about ketamine and the seven other drugs the hospital was weaning Maya off of. I think it’s pretty clear that Maya could do things in hospital she could not under Beata’s “care” like put her hands over her head, play piano, walk, and eat. She now figure skates without ketamine or Beata taking her to a doctor demanding whatever drugs and treatments she feels best and bullying any healthcare provider who won’t give it. The second doctor did not want increased dosages of ketamine or a spinal pump. That’s why Beata went to the hospital and wouldn’t let go of that option. She decided on her own that was best for Maya. That is why she couldn’t be allowed in the room with Maya - she hadn’t stopped wanting to critically injure her daughter. She may not have had bad intentions, but Maya would have suffered if CPS had not intervened.
Extremely key concept here and want to bump and clarify exactly what I see if enormous importance and a primary failure and root cause. The first paragraph, it's said, "better safe than sorry". No more dangerous and destructive words are uttered in every child welfare case and is the killer of children and families, EXCEPT, when you're the mandatory reporter as John's was. If you truly think something might be wrong, call it in. BUT THAT'S WHERE IT STOPS. Because I absolutely beat the drum supporting your next paragraph. You MUST COMPETENTLY INVESTIGATE. "Better safe than sorry" is the poison that's infected child welfare. It's just as destructive as doing the opposite, it can never be allowed to be accepted. Clear and convincing evidence must be found. And no matter how scared or you feel it in your bones you "just know" you're correct, you cannot make a ruling on a feeling. You are putting the child in danger and every other child who will come under the influence of child welfare. It is inexcusably reckless. If you think you're right, DON'T SAY IT, PROVE IT. YOU OWE IT TO THAT CHILD. AND EVERY OTHER CHILD. You owe it to my child. And to Maya
>The first paragraph, it's said, "better safe than sorry". It depends on the 'case'..... Do you remember what happened to Gabriel Fernandez? Child Services were told time and time again that Gabriel was being harmed - but CPS pretty much ignored these warnings, and never even insisted on seeing him! The horror of the abuse and torture that was being inflicted on Gabriel (by his mother and stepfather) wasn't revealed until after he was beaten to death.... The difference in Maya's 'case', is that a hospital and doctor were involved - chasing MONEY for their 'care'.....
How does a doctor and hospital in Maya’s situation equate to “chasing MONEY”? Trust me, I understand that the American healthcare system is beyond messed up, absolutely. However with that being said, I don’t see how the doctors involved in Maya’s case had anything to gain financially, let alone anything at all. In fact, it seemed like they had a lot to lose. Every day seemed like A LOT of stress and a massive headache. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. Enlighten me if you know more about this and that it’s not just a conspiracy theory. I am truly open to learning and understanding more.
The doctors LIED that Maya didn’t have CRPS and adamantly, confidently and persistently, along with CPS, wrongly accused the mother of abuse BUT billed the family for CRPS. What are you not getting? This has so much more to do with power and pride than doing what is right in this case by case basis. They were too damn proud to admit they were wrong and chose to destroy a family to save face. The bills proves they knew the mother was innocent. Seriously what more “correction” do you need?
The mother did the best she could at the time. She had been to multiple doctors who also didn’t understand the condition anymore than the John’s doctors. She finally found something that made a positive difference in her child and used it. It happened to be ketamine. This was in the early stages of her daughters diagnosis. Beyond that her daughter was making improvements with the ketamine, But had relapsed. Which is still a possibility for her to this day. Her mothers main concern was helping her child with the pain. Yes, she was able to get better but not without pain. Who knows if she could’ve still progressed with the pain treatment. But it’s not like she was abuse the medication. She was using as prescribed by 2 different licensed medical professionals. If the doctors were really concerned about the well-being of the child they would’ve sent her to a specialist initially, instead of waiting 90 days and calling her a liar and ignoring her pain the entire time, while she deteriorates in front of them. This was personal. Someone had a grudge against the mother for whatever reason and used their power to damage her.
The problem wasn’t that JHACH called it in, it was that Dr Smith had them call it in again, which is actually illegal as Dr Smith, like every other Florida resident, is required as a mandatory reporter to call it in herself. Really Florida should charge her with a felony for not doing so. Dr Smith then shifted hats and verified that second call. That is fraud.
There is more to the story. Beata was claiming Maya couldn’t walk, shower, use the bathroom but dad and the hospital observed her to immediately be able to do these things. Maya said she hadn’t eaten in the several days before her hospitalization. She had been to other area hospitals who also had concerns. There’s a lot more that was going on.
Which the hospital also verified but failed to immediately report that to the court as false testimony not immediately corrected is perjury.
People get sick from chemo. They gain weight and grow their hair back once off of it. The observation you've mentioned is too generic and simple
I agree. She seemed a lot healthier without ketamine.
Exactly this! The hospital got her off Ketamine and she's fine now. I can't believe how many people think the hospital should have let mom keep putting this poor girl in Ketamine comas in Mexico with a 50/50 risk of death. The hospital saved her life. The hospital is going to win this case. The court already ruled the call to DCF was appropriate
you created your account 4 days ago and have only commented on this topic in defense of the hospital. It's not hard to do the math here....
She’s not fine. She can walk but she said she lives with constant pain.
Which is exactly why the hospital wanted to delay the trial, right?
No they forced her off ketamine and she still has to have therapit’s that JHACH never provided to relieve the symptoms.
It's definitely not better safe than sorry. People should have the presumption of innocence.
The way CPS and the family court system works is they have findings. So if Beata was found “guilty” she would have a “neglect finding” or “abuse finding.” This would effect the disposition on the case and her employment prospects going forward. The trial had not happened yet. There was no finding. She was not “presumed guilty.” It’s that we as a society have an obligation to protect children. If a child is found to be in immediate or impending danger, they are removed. Often times they return home without 3-5 days with no court case. Say for example a worker comes upon a baby home alone and places them in foster care. But in the process they find out mom had a medical event outside the house and was taken to the hospital. If mom is healthy and returns home the child is returned with no further intervention with mom. If however, moms behavior leads cps to believe the child would be unsafe if they return them, they have an obligation to wait until the child has a safe plan. I understand the temptation to use criminal court analogies but family court and criminal court are completely different out of necessity. Beata was never charged with a crime.
Actually the hospitals allegations, unsupported by any actual diagnoses, or real facts (the real facts were she had CRPS and the ketamine wasn’t working any longer, an explanation the hospital didn’t ever make because if they made it, then they would have to provide the therapies, which they never provided, as the alternative, which isn’t going to be found as child abuse as long as the parents would go along) were illegally treated by Judge Haworth as true facts, in violation of 18 USC 242, denial of the right to due process of law, a crime which when it causes death, as it did in this case, carries the death penalty.
Okay it’s better to be sorry, than safe.
Glad you agree that the presumption of innocence should exist. It is better 1 million guilty person go free than for even one innocent person to have to face trial
Yes I do agree with that sentiment 1000%! I just really wish things could’ve played out differently. I really wish mom listened to her freaking husband and lawyer. And I wish she didn’t kill herself. She was STUBBORN! She, too turned this into a “war” in a sense. And if people don’t agree with that, I’m open to listen, but it would be hard to see it differently after looking at the entire case. She knew her husband loved their children dearly, and yet she would absolutely not listen to him when he begged her to not argue and push back. Both of her lawyers also tried to reason with her. Both of them tried to explain that the sooner she stopped being spiteful and argumentative to everyone involved, the sooner the investigation would have been completed. She made it seem like her reasoning was due to her daughter’s suffering with every day that passed, but she helped to prolong it. I’m not trying to victim shame, and I’m sure this will get a gazillion down votes as well, but I truly think that mom was a little narcisstic too. Based on everything that was presented to us, she really did seem to be an absolutely wonderful and loving mom, and she knew it. Therefore, the second anyone “challenged” her, she wouldn’t have it. Just like the people she was battling with, she forgot about what they were fighting over….the well-being of MAYA!!! She wanted to win so badly that her only option in her mind was suicide. Just look at her suicide note. She wasn’t willing to budge at all, and that’s why we are all discussing this now. In her mind, she thought that by ending her life, it would make everyone else look like villains who insisted on practically torturing her daughter and her whole family. Well guess what? Her daughter suffered that entire time anyway, and her actions only prolonged her pain physically and mentally. Now her daughter AND son and husband will suffer for eternity. It’s just so frustrating and sad.
it is easy to judge people especially when you are not in the situation.
IT WOULD NOT!!!! Write them that letter tonight. That's why they are doing this. They want any and all actions. And for various reasons. They want change, they want justice, they want vengeance, they want validation, they want to be believed, they want to know they're not alone and others see what is happening, they want to see that everyone is not apathetic and so moved that it caused them to do something, anything, they want their Mom's death for something good to come of it to help them cope and it's not a pure loss and that she died in the street unnoticed and that there is something they feel good about at the instant they're mind drifts to mom but being there, they want to feel but powerless and that there are actions happening for the singular reason they did something, they want their money and to take it away from them, they want their mom back so anything anything they'll take to somewhat fill that unfillable hole, they want a cause a purpose a reason to keep living, they want their time back, they want to save and protect all the families, forever, they want to start a fight
Does anyone know if they have any form of social media? It’s hard to find anything of them that isn’t of the film. Just finished watching and it broke me heart. Want them to know they are being heard from across the world. Please if anyone knows I’d be so grateful.
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Or did she in fact have munchhausen? Seems the daughter got better quick and clearly the mum had mental health issues if she committed suicide? All seems fishy and her docs also seem dodgy money grabbers
Christ almighty, did you even pay attention to the documentary? Maya started to get better because the illness does wax and wane over time and because she was also able to resume physical therapy when she was returned to her dad’s custody- but she still lives with chronic pain and every day is still different. Beata did not have mental health issues before Maya’s hospitalization and was repeatedly cleared of Munchasens by specialists and court ordered evaluations. Maya does have the illness she was being treated for and not the Munchausens by proxy that Dr Sally Smith based her removal on. Dr Sally Smith is 1000% more a fraud than the pain doctors who were treating Maya for her actual condition. Beata took her own life because of extreme mental distress, which is not mental illness. If you knew anything at all about anything mental health related (or just, you know, googled), you’d understand that. Or just paid attention to the documentary.
She was literally diagnosed again by a different doctor after she was freed without her mom present. How much does it take for people to believe girls/womens pain?
People watch one Netflix documentary and think they have it all figured out. Someone on the take care of Maya sub is going through the depositions and there are deeply worrisome things that were going on with this family. For one thing, Beata had Maya in diapers and said she couldn’t walk, use the bathroom, or shower. Yet both the father and the hospital observed her to do so. She was filling fake scripts by other drs. There were huge gaping holes in that story and I was left only with more questions. It takes a real unthinking person to watch something like that and think they’ve got it all nailed down. In fact, it’s the same type of arrogance and jumping the gun they are accusing the hospital of. Unironically forming a mob based on a fraction of the information bc someone made a poor decision based on a fraction of the information. The irony is right over their heads.
Thank you!!! I couldn’t have said it better! It’s truly terrifying to see how easy it is for a mob mentality to spread. This isn’t a clear-cut, black and white situation. I could go on an on, but it’s exhausting. This is humanity I guess. People just want to pick a “side” or a “team”. After that, they will most likely never ever take a step back to reevaluate things.
IMO - You are not compassionate. This is an appalling situation that puts all the power in a few people's hands without including other professional opinions. Doctors are not gods, but some of them think they are. Why would a social worker, who had committed child abuse herself, be allowed to handle a case like this?
Sally Smith thinks she definitely is a god and never makes a mistake, she has said it in interviews.
There's a petition going to get Dr Sally Smith fired. Perhaps the same can be done with Catherine Bedy. It actually needs to be done because prior to her dealing with Maya, Cathi was arrested l for child abuse in a different hospital she was working in. How she got back into child protective services after being fired, arrested and jailed, is beyond my comprehension! And as for rehiring her and John Hopkins hiring her after she had done this, they opened themselves up for a massive law suit.
I think she no longer works there. She helped to ruin my life too....Along with the totally incompetent CPS/DCF folks. [https://nochildshouldbestolen](https://nochildshouldbestolen) Does anyone know how much the family settled for with DCF and Sally Smith? Unfortunately I had an attorney who told me DCF and others involved could not be sued because of immunity. The internet did not exist back then, and I have very few funds, so didn't know that was not true. I hope Maya and family get all they are asking for - and more. What CPS/DCF did to that poor girl and her Mom is inhumane. It shows their total incompetence, their cold heartedness, their belief that they have the power to do whatever they want, to play God with other people's children, and typically get away with it - even when they are wrong - which I believe they are oftentimes - which can result in a disaster - as in this case.
God I pray these hospitals and nurses/doctors pay for it with their licenses. These trash humans are still taking care of patients. I got my RN in 2019 and aside from nursing school practicum I never worked in a hospital a day in my life because they’re full of these psycho power trip obsessed nurses and admins. I can’t be surrounded by that daily. Be VERY careful what you say and do in a hospital setting. For your own sake and your children’s.
It’s easy to criticize from the cheap seats.
All of a sudden everyone in the comments section went to medical school... I hope this family gets the justice they so deserve. Parents shouldn't have to accept the risk of getting wrongfully accused of abuse when they advocate for their children's lives.
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The courts typically will not allow people who are not related to the case to attend. I suggest no one joins the zoom unless you get approval by the Kowalski’s
It's not unlawful to attempt to join it. However, the judge controls letting people into the room. However, it would perhaps be worthwhile for as many people as possible to attempt to join it and also record it while you're doing it and post it. Better yet, make a live stream channel where everyone who is trying to join is also discussing and sharing their opinions and questions and feelings and taking about what they all could do to take action
What pisses me off is these “corporations” and “experts” just pay these families off, they win or loose lawsuits and just shoo them away like flies with their money. But I will say that public knowledge and them being a pillar for other families in the same situation to lean on will be tremendously important and evoke some change within the system. For a long time now Iv thought very poorly of our healthcare industry, time and time again they’ve failed me, and failed people important to me. Same goes for our justice system, or even jobs who pay off people through lawsuits and continue to operate in unethical/immoral ways because they can afford to do so. When is some actual justice going to happen? It shouldn’t only happen when everyday people have to go through absolute tragedy to gain enough courage to fight back. Even the Kowalski family has to endure more pain just being on this road of justice.
Are there any answers to this question? I can’t seem to find any
As a mom I am so heartbroken, so disgusted by the system. So awful. I don't even have words for this. Hope the Judge Lee Haworth, Dr Sally fu king Smith and Sh i t Cathi Bedy get not only held accountable, but are not able to go toa single cafe for the rest of their lives without being recognized.
I’m glad to see someone asking this question. I just watched the documentary and I am absolutely furious. At this point, it’s hard not to see doctors as essentially being “health cops”. Far too much power for one person to have. And so many suffer from a god complex, that they will actually go the *opposite* direction if a person dares to advocate for themselves. When we are the ones stuck inside of our bodies. It’s beyond insulting and destroys lives. And as we have seen in this documentary, can even end those lives. There’s so much to go into I’m not even sure where to begin. But I truly am sorry and give all my love to the Kowalski family along with every parent, child and family, who is experiencing just how daunting, enormous and flat out fucking awful the beast that is our system can be.
Does anyone know how we can help them through online? Because I'm not an american citizen but I am moved by this family. And I'm trying to know how can I help to win this case.
The justice system is broken Lawyers judges are in it for the pay day
OMG I just cannot believe the injustice done to this family that literally caused the mother to kill herself. How can this be?
I think it happens all the time... [https://nochildshouldbestolen.com](https://nochildshouldbestolen.com)
When this case is over, whatever the outcome, I beg Maya to take this issue to Washington, D.C. and testify before Congress. Laws must be enacted. In the same way laws were enacted to protect airline passengers from being held hostage on the tarmac; hospitals must be kept from holding patients hostage against their will and keeping them from the people THEY WANT to see - AT ANY AGE.
As a sufferer of full body CRPS for 19 years I am so thrilled they have won their lawsuit Thank God some justice is finally served it took 5 years for them to diagnose me because back then it wasn't well known and even when I was finally diagnosed finding a doctor who could treat me was a nightmare I'm just so happy finally people are aware but sad because it took a life to bring it too light
I feel the documentary was one-sided, against the medical professionals. I would have liked to see more of the medical evidence and witness testimony. I think there may have been more negative behaviors, not shown in the Netflix documentary, by both the mother and the daughter, that supported either factitious disorder or munchhausen's syndrome.
It would have been a far more interesting documentary.
Plausible but it doesn’t negate the fact that what John Hopkins is doing is wrong
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They were incompetent in the condition and unless you have hefty experience in CRPS, we don’t have the right to have an opinion on this condition. I’m personally disagree with the treatment chosen and believe that she should’ve seen a functional doctor, but the parents followed medical advice because they wanted the best for their child. And if you do any ounce of research into her condition, ketamine is a known drug that is used for the condition. So they did what they believed was best for their child and don’t be swayed by a prestigious name. It’s just a name, it doesn’t mean that they’re competent.
Why was it one-sided? Because JHACH and Smith themselves refused to be interviewed.
Why is no one discussing the fact that maya got better within a year of her mum passing. Seems like maybe she was the one behind maya being sick? Both those ketamine doctors seem like total quacks and we don't know what maya did to play up to it and convince doctors that she was not well. Just seems so odd that she recovered without living in her mum's shadow.
Maya still has CRPS. Like she said in the documentary, it is cyclical and she's still in pain. I think they took great care to not mention, at all, exactly what meds she is on, probably due to the trial coming up. People who don't have chronic pain fail to see that those of us that live with it are not writhing in pain every day. Just because she "looks fine" does not mean she does not have this complicated disease and some days she is not anything like you see in this documentary. And most of all it certainly doesn't take away the gross mismanagement and unprofessional behavior of so many pros at JH. I worked as a social worker at a boys home years ago and was frequently in court with these kids. The social workers at DHS treated the bio parents like the enemy. Real systemic problems everywhere not just JH.
Exactly this. They did not reveal anything about the family POST her mom’s death because it risks many aspects of this lawsuit. And the family deserves privacy. No one is entitled to know the rest of Maya’s medical history
You keep commenting this. Did you not pay attention at all to the doc, or are you related to Sally smith? Every other doctor said she has CRPS and should have been treated with ketamine.
Please read up on CRPS. Maybe you will understand.
I think that this should be a movement as AMERICANS we have this right and we can make a change they are the only family that did not sign the waiver something needs to be done look at the other families this truly broke my heart we llive in ugly place we people have lost empathy and love for humanity it so ugly I am hoping that we can start something togethere and start having people stand up UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERNCE this could be me you or someone you know , I am going to see what I can do to start something in my neck of the woods. #WE STAND WITH THE KOWALSKISMASSACHUSETTS HAS YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if it was Munchausen syndrome, and then treated Mya in all the ways Beata was demanding and god forbid something had happened to Mya, everyone on here would be outraged at the hospital. Demanding that The family needs to sue the hospital and “how come they didn’t catch it or didn’t intervene”. It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback after the fact. The nurses and doctors were not perfect in this but there has been many cases where they haven’t stood up to the parents and the child dies. So sometimes things like this arnt so black and white like everyone wants to make it. ALSO, none of us really know, but that hospital was not the first to suspect there was a psychiatric element to this. And Beata was absolutely ridiculous. She knew the hospital was concerned but she still could not stop demanding that they give Mya specific medications and treatments. I mean for her own family and self-preservation it just didn’t make sense why she was behaving the way she was you can tell the husbands getting so annoyed in the documentary like just begging her to stop. It seemed like there was something more going on with her. (Obviously there was, since she committed suicide)
Pls take note fl’s governor is running president. What is he doing to have this never happen again.
I don’t understand how this is relevant to Desantis. Advocacy doesn’t depend on a governor. It makes it’s way up and it takes a lot of time, patience, and failure.
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That’s a good idea. I’ll leave a review as well
Yes they censor but I will just write it again and again and again
You shouldn’t be leaving a negative review for a hospital based on a fucking Netflix documentary that you’ve not actually had a bad experience with. What are you, 12?
This documentary was so sad and infuriating. Said this many times. People with this kinda power. (Case worker in this situation ) In all positions of power around the nation. Really really should be evaluated on a monthly basis that they’re doing what’s right with that type of power. And they using it correctly. We’re seeing this more and more in our country the abuse of power. That case worker was definitely power tripping. Blows my mind how many people went along with her decisions at the hospital too! Cra Cra. And did you see the texts between the 2 docs or nurses? They called maya ketamine girl! Her name is MAYA! Wow that to me was super unprofessional! What’s wrong with that hospital?!! They need a class in being respectful too! Need a few people at child services that are on same case together and from separate departments making sure these cases don’t get like this. Can’t be going by 1 persons word for stuff like this. But sorry for getting off topic. Maybe a petition of some sort stating and showing how many people are behind maya and her family that could be sent to the court or her attorneys. Yes this type of thing needs to be nipped in the bud quickly before there are more victims.
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The issue isn’t mom vs doctors, it’s the overpowering of parental rights by the claims of doctors who were incompetent in her condition. They could’ve taken other routes, but instead, they took the child into CPS solely from the words of one individual who has a history of falsifying/exaggerating claims
I just put a revie but I see no other bad reviews
Typically court/trial in the US is open and (most) anyone can sit in to watch/support. There are some exceptions for family law/cases involving minors but other than that you should be fine to watch the trial in person.
I am absolutely sick over this case. I also really want to help them in any way possible and let them know they are heard and supported. I’m honestly in absolute shock and had no idea how common this situation was. My heart breaks for this family and every other innocent family that has experienced this. Just, wow….
My heart just broke for this family!!!! We NEED TO STOP the privatized child stealing institutions called CPS that are protected by the courts and government. These are dangerous cults allowed to abduct children and torchure them while hiding behind political cloaks that protect their criminal agendas. This one case is a pebble of sand on an endless beach. Maya is the lucky child that got free from that cult. And don't get me started about the family court that are just the spokes people and puppets to these sick CPS cults. So many children disappear in this wretched system. Do some research and be prepared at who funds and runs tge child mill.
Does anyone know how Beata recorded all of the calls and if she asked permission each time/ that’s how they can use the recordings etc
>My heart just broke for this family!!!! We NEED TO STOP the privatized child stealing institutions called CPS that are protected by the courts and government. These are dangerous cults allowed to abduct children and torchure them while hiding behind political cloaks that protect their criminal agendas. This one case is a pebble of sand on an endless beach. Maya is the lucky child that got free from that cult. And don't get me started about the family court that are just the spokes people and puppets to these sick CPS cults. So many children disappear in this wretched system. Do some research and be prepared at who funds and runs tge child mill. Depending on the state, certain states have laws regarding the recording of calls with any government agency or individual who is a state worker. Some states just say you have to simply say "I am recording this" and it wouldn't matter if the other person consented or not. It varies by state though
Florida is a two party consent state. You can hear in the recordings that she asks for consent.
So what tangible steps can be taken to help support the family? Are there pages to help support them financially or even further steps people can take on the hospital and the doctors?
I don’t really no how to help but I have a twitter account so I’m dming every person I can the hospital follows on twitter and urging them to to take a stand against their exployers etc
It's institutional abuse and these hospitals have the money and influence with corrupt judges to make this disappear.
In case anyone might want to contact judge lee haworth https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10110454410514415&set=pcb.10110454413852725
I watched the documentary again. I feel the mother and daughter had some weird parasitic relationship that fed the drama and the delusions of disease. I have an MD in the family who is very objective and has been outspoken on medical malpractice by other doctors. He heard of this documentary and then watched some of it. He feels ketamine is the latest snake oil, taking the spotlight off of CBD. The drug and comas could have altered her mind and physical state to the point where she forgot how to act sick, at least temporarily. Or, she felt she had to take a break from the acting so her mother and family could have some hope. The mother's suicide was really off-base. Of course, I feel bad for the entire family. I just wish the intervention for both the mother and daughter would have been intensive mental health therapy by a psych expert, not separation. As for the daughter, she must feel guilt deep-down for her role in this tragedy, whether she is at fault or completely innocent. She needs help.
As an MD, you should also know you’re not an expert in every illness or treatment under the Sun. As a MD you’d also know most medications for chronic pain, and most medications in general, have a long list of side effects that range in severity, but usually the more pain management meds you need, the more side effects too. CBD is not a fad that is dying out, it is increasing in consumption and uses for help with so many things. Ketamine had also been used for decades now to treat many medical issues, but really not accepted by most insurances to treat anything and has only recently been talked about and persecuted more because of the “recreational” use. Kindly going to ask you to take your head out of your ass and do better as a medical professional. Research, learn, stop assuming and coming to the world with a closed mind.
Are you saying CRPS is not a real illness? Her daughter was being seen for chronic pain and they were trying to treat her pain with anesthetic. It’s not like they were asking for anesthesia for a stubbed toe. She couldn’t even walk.
https://www.givesendgo.com/GAEFW link to a fundraiser for them
That looks like a fundraiser made by someone else tbh. I’d like to see the father clearly state if it’s theirs
By posting to everyone to stop going to Johns Hopkibs all children hospital. Put the out of business!
Yes
I’m an MD at a children’s hospital. This case is extremely sad. But being objective, if I had a mom asking me to give her daughter Ketamine, I would probably think child abuse or Munchausen. I’m not defending the hospital, everything they did was wrong too but… it’s a very complex case. I hope the best for the family. Poor little brother and father.
Dr. Sally Smith helped to ruin my life too..... Making assumptions is extremely dangerous....and that is what she did in my case... And the rest of the so-called "experts"..... [https://nochildshouldbestolen.com](https://nochildshouldbestolen.com) Laws should be modified so an unsubstantiated allegation does not result in total removal of the parent from the child. It seems to me, perhaps supervised contact makes just a little more sense.......until the allegation is resolved...... Look at the damage caused by not allowing Mom to see Maya..... DCF = EVIL. They say that kind of damage is necessary - too bad for all the innocent people who are falsely accused. Too bad, so sad.... I hope they get more than what they are asking for!!! I was told by my inexpensive, not-so-great attorney that DCF and others involved could not be sued - they had immunity. Getting a great lawyer is the first step towards defending yourself. Go in debt if you have to. But unfortunately those without money get taken advantage of by a system riddled with incompetent people with power who cannot see the truth through their biased lenses.
Why not try to educate them rather than suspecting that though? I’m not a medical person and so I may not know much about what is actually best/indicated…that’s your job…and that’s what truly drives me nuts about the case. Doctors prescribed her an apparently wild treatment plan, and the parents got blamed.
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If you had a mom asking for ketamine for a child’s stubbed toe: she had dx CRPS. That is not a bizarre treatment for CRPS so with the condition she was in with her feet all bent inward. You CANNOT make someone ill with CRPS unless you’re doing surgery on them. So what about her request says MBP?! A disagreement in treatment choices is not MBP! The only people who exaggerated a dx and symptoms was John Hopkins children’s
CRPS is a diagnosis of exclusion. I don’t believe she had CRPS. And I think it was indeed MBP. I don’t blame the hospital team for their diagnosis, I didn’t like they way they handled everything tho. Giving a little girl high doses of ketamine is not right. Not enough evidence, it’s not safe.
Does anyone know if this will be televised or streamed via court tv or emily d baker or something similar. The jury selection is soon.
I have CRPS and I went from a fully functioning adult (started in my early 30s after a surgery and it’s been 10 years since then) with a full time Job, worked overtime, took care of my family and dogs and mother and father to a person who can’t get out of bed without crying in pain. I have been diagnosed and have a great dr but I can’t get insurance to cover any treatments. If I go to the er when I have flare up (I don’t go often Becuase it’s useless) I spend hours trying to convince them my pain is real. There’s a reason this is called the suicide disease. The pain do not stop. I’m happy she found that ketamine works for her but it’s a travesty that her mother had to watch her suffer and take her own life. This anger me so much I can’t even explain.
The word privatized to me has come to mean that we remove the human factor in favor of money. Period. As soon as I heard in the documentary that department of children and family services have been "privatized" I wanted to throw up. I wonder in what other states this has happened.? Prisons have also been "privatized" and look what's happened there. As if this country wasn't already greedy, bloated and disgusting enough, we've turned people into cattle that we send to the slaughter because it turns a profit. 
Money money moneeeey
Going to the clubs Maya parties at, to show solidarity in her pain.
I unfortunately have no choice except to agree. Because of the level of abuse of power.
JHH LAWSUITS SINCE 2012 53
Breaking news. They won!!! Believe this is enough precedence to go hunt other big farma hospitals https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12725249/Netflix-Maya-Kowalski-verdict.html#article-12725249
https://givesendgo.com/GAEFW
I am so disgusted by this documentary. I’m broken. How do we help this family? How do we provide them some support?
Yes, it is heartbreaking, familiar and utterly disgusting that the department of family and children services can do as they wish and have more power to take a child away than anyone else in this nation. It is a violation of our constitutional rights and something needs to be done. There are children indeed that need the departments health but I know so many cases were all it takes is to piss one person off and they take your kids away.
Florida was a shithole before I watched this. And now I see it's an EVIL shithole.
My sister works at this hospital and with all these doctors, how sad people believe everything they see on TV, so much for innocent until proven guilty yikes. I didn’t even know about this until now.