A Texas court allowed child abduction based on a diagnosis of "perceived parental autism" by medical doctors

Parents Joel and Donelle with attorney Ashley Thompson and Baby Rosa. Images by Family Freedom Project.

by Brian Shilhavy
Health Impact News

Imagine you take your child to the doctor and the doctor notes that your child is underweight and then the doctor calls Child Protective Services (CPS) because he thinks you and your spouse are on the “autism spectrum” and therefore you don’t have parental rights and they take your child away from you.

Unfortunately, this type of medical kidnapping continues every day across the United States! We’ve been reporting stories like this for over a decade. Here’s one from Oregon that we reported on in 2017 that also got national media attention:

Oregon Couple Loses Children Due to ‘Low IQ’

Today’s story about parents accused of not being able to care for their children because of their “appearance” on the “autism spectrum” originates from Texas. Family Freedom Projectwho issued a press release about the baby Rose today.

And remember that “autism” is a “disorder” as defined by psychiatrists in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), which does not include any type of objective medical test.

It is based solely on the subjective opinions of psychologists in observing human behavior and which behaviors are “normal” and which are not, and therefore require drugs and medical intervention.

Texas Judge Greenlights CPS Reports Based on ‘Perceived Autism’

Family Freedom Project
Press release (received by email)

Brown County, Texas – In the first civil rights case in Texas, Civil District Judge Mike Smith agreed with Brown County doctors that they are legally allowed to refer parents to CPS based on the doctor’s perception of autism.

In a recent hearing, attorneys for doctors at Hendrick Medical Center and Brownwood Pediatrics argued that doctors are immune from civil liability when they report parents to CPS because of the doctors’ understanding of autism.

The hearing was part of a civil rights lawsuit filed on behalf of parents Joel and Donel by attorney Ashley Thompson. The lawsuit alleges that the parents’ daughter, Rose, was taken from them two and a half years after doctors at Hendricks and Brownwood Pediatrics made assumptions about the parents and repeatedly claimed in medical records that the parents had autism and were unable to raise their daughter.

The lawsuit alleges that the doctors not only reported the parents to CPS in this regard, but also participated constructively in the investigation process and conducted most of the investigation effectively.

Doctors blamed the parents for the slow weight gain in their daughter, but later showed that the condition is genetic – the possibility that the parents raised at the beginning of the case with the doctors. However, Rose has been separated from them for two and a half years. Parents will never be forgiven for this devastating mistake.

Instead of denying the allegations, the doctors responded to the lawsuit by arguing in a recent hearing that it is perfectly legal to report a parent based on perceived autism. They further argued that the law gives them immunity for such decisions.

The Family Freedom Project worked to defend Joel and Donelle in the CPS case, as well as support the family in their civil rights case against the doctors and CPS.

In response to the doctors’ arguments in the case, Judge Mike Smith of Brown County issued an order agreeing with their arguments. Accepting the doctor’s argument, Judge Smith’s order gives doctors broad immunity to report a parent’s perceived disability to CPS.

Jeremy Newman, vice president of the Family Freedom Project, released the following statement about the case:

“The idea that doctors have immunity to report parents to CPS and destroy families based on a developmental disability should offend the conscience of every person in Texas, and it should horrify us all. Family destruction is one of the most serious actions the state can take. Because of this, doctors think they can harm families based on health issues. A child later shows genetics, and then walks away and says, ‘Oh, we’re immune.'”

The ramifications of the ruling can go far beyond this individual case. The legal arguments presented in the case raise serious concerns about parental rights, disability discrimination, and the growing power of institutions to separate children from their families with little accountability.

More than two years after Rose’s eviction, Joel and Donel continue to fight through court proceedings and plead for a chance to reunite with their daughter and rebuild their family.

The Family Freedom Project is actively supporting the family’s legal defense, advocacy efforts, and community awareness campaign around this case. In FFP’s years of experience in parental rights litigation, we have never seen a more egregious attack on an innocent family than that perpetrated by doctors and CPS against Joel, Donelle and their daughter Rose.

More about Baby Rose at the Family Freedom Project.

This article was written by Human Superior Intelligence (HSI).