Celiac Disease + Child Abuse

[Jay Silverman]

If a child has celiac disease and a parent refuses to enforce the diet, is that parent committing child abuse?

The child knows he has celiac disease and knows that there are long-term health risks. The child is a teenager, age 15.

However, the parent will not stop the child if he tries to eat gluten and often will give him food with gluten, as to not make him feel like he's missing out on what everyone else has.

The parent also has celiac disease and, having gone undiagnosed for many years, herself has serious health problems due to the disease and the damage it caused.

What do you think: child abuse? or is the child old enough to make these decisions for himself?

[mamatide]

What do you think: child abuse? or is the child old enough to make these decisions for himself?

I've often thought of this, especially when people say that my DD is very fortunate to have me for her Mama since I pursued a diagnosis and went 100% gluten free for her, finding ways to make her transition as normal as possible, making my own bread, making her feel better about standing out... etc.

Then I think about people I know who would put their heads in the sand, or do a half-assed job at a gluten free diet and I think that I agree with people's assessment of me. She's lucky to have me for her Mama because she's positively thriving.

So is it child abuse? As much as letting your kid eat and eat and eat and get obese is child abuse I guess.

I'll be interested to hear what others have to say.

mamatide

[Lisa]

If a child has celiac disease and a parent refuses to enforce the diet, is that parent committing child abuse?

The child knows he has celiac disease and knows that there are long-term health risks. The child is a teenager, age 15.

However, the parent will not stop the child if he tries to eat gluten and often will give him food with gluten, as to not make him feel like he's missing out on what everyone else has. If that teenager has been already diagnosies with Celiac Disease, then the parent is medically harming the child.

The parent also has celiac disease and, having gone undiagnosed for many years, herself has serious health problems due to the disease and the damage it caused. With a proper diagnoses, of un-check celiac, yes

What do you think: child abuse? or is the child old enough to make these decisions for himself? I will leave that answer to you.

Lisa

[Jay Silverman]

So is it child abuse? As much as letting your kid eat and eat and eat and get obese is child abuse I guess.

That's very interesting, comparing it to other conditions like that. However, specificially for obesity, I would say that obesity is only linked to trends in increases in health problems. Not everyone who is obese will get ill or get a disease or have increased risk of death. However, contiuning to eat gluten with celiac disease will lead to future health problems. Obesity means gaining weight, which could lead to problems. Celiac disease and gluten means and directly leads to damage and destruction of intenstines. You will likely get health problems, whether it be osteoporosis (very common as you all know) or anemia (not so common).

So i guess what I was trying to say is.. celiac disease directly leads to damage while obesity just leads to a possible increased risk of damage.

[Guest nini]

I wouldn't go so far as to say abuse, but I will call it negligent.

[Lisa]

I am not sure where you are going here and for what reason. But that is not for me to know.

Celac Disease carries it's own risk and danger for further development, unchecked/undiscovered. It can be totally controlled by diet, although damage may have already been done by oversite of the disease.

Obesity, is well know for the risks.

[Nic]

Would it be abuse to feed a diabetic child a chocolate cake when ever they want it? Isn't it contributing to the harm of a minor? All I need to know is that untreated Celiac disease puts my child at a higher risk of other autoimmune diseases, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies that can lead to all sorts of other scary problems, and worst of all cancer. I will not judge other people and the way they choose to raise their children, but with my child, I would concider myself beyond neglectful to allow my son to eat what is concidered poison to his body. Just my opinion though.

[tarnalberry]

That is a question you'd have to ask a lawyer, actually. AFAIK, a 15-year old is NOT old enough to make pretty many any decision for him/her-self.

[Rachel--24]

I would not call it responsible parenting thats for sure. I dont know that in the eyes of the law it would fall into the realm of "child abuse" but in my opinion it is. As long as that individual is under the age of 18 he is in the custody of his parents. It is their responsibility to keep that child safe and healthy. To ignore his disease in my opinion is negligence on the part of the parent. Of course they dont have control over what he eats outside of the home but to go ahead and feed him gluten and act as if he is not Celiac is not acceptable. Its bad parenting and I find stories like this extremely disturbing....especially given the fact that this particular parent is now suffering health complications as a direct result of consuming gluten. Why would she ignore the fact that her own son faces those same risks if he doesnt adhere to the diet??? Very sad.

[Turtle]

I'd call it "Medical Neglect"

[gfp]

I would not call it responsible parenting thats for sure. I dont know that in the eyes of the law it would fall into the realm of "child abuse" but in my opinion it is. As long as that individual is under the age of 18 he is in the custody of his parents. It is their responsibility to keep that child safe and healthy. To ignore his disease in my opinion is negligence on the part of the parent. Of course they dont have control over what he eats outside of the home but to go ahead and feed him gluten and act as if he is not Celiac is not acceptable. Its bad parenting and I find stories like this extremely disturbing....especially given the fact that this particular parent is now suffering health complications as a direct result of consuming gluten. Why would she ignore the fact that her own son faces those same risks if he doesnt adhere to the diet??? Very sad.

This is a good observation.

But its really complex ....

I mean if the kid is just going to eat gluten anyway how can a parent stop that short of actually locking the child up?

That itself could be 'child abuse'....

Another way to look at it is what do you call a Dr. who insists on a biopsy of a child and a 3 month gluten challenge and then insists on another the next year etc. ?

Is this different ?

[kabowman]

I deal with this to a lesser degree - my kids do NOT have celiac disease - however, one (just turned 13) has asthma, bad allergies, and is lactose intolerant, the other one (15+) is on anti-depressants and meds for ADHD and has an intolerance to nitrates.

Their father does not believe the youngest has asthma or is lactose intolerant and doesn't believe he has allergy issues at his house. He comes home after a weekend coughing (asthma), sneezing, and has to camp out in the bathroom for a couple of days. His dad even makes fun of him about taking lactose pills when they eat - he takes them anyway, when his dad teases him and he remembers (he is only 13 and doesn't think about it like he should, yet). The allergist told my youngest that he has to grow up overnight because Dad won't support so he has to take care of it and his pediatrition is aware of his dads thoughts on the lactose pills.

My oldest has had problems with foods for years and their dad still does not believe it, they don't have a problem at HIS house, well, they are not allowed to fart or burp and they don't pay attention to what is going on with them so how would he really know? He often misses his meds and skipping the ADHD drugs aren't too bad but skipping the anti-depressants are bad.

I don't know that the courts would see any of this, even if it was celiac disease, as abuse, neglect certainly and if you wanted to push things, who would be the loser? I don't like it, I counsel the boys to remember their meds, remember pills for food, etc. I have worked with their dad, he just doesn't believe they have a problem and refuses to support them.

I chose not to push this legally because it gets ugly and ultimately, your child will have to decide when and what to eat while there--like my kids' doc told my son, "you have to grow up overnight because dad won't support you" not a pretty picture but that is where it lies, for me.

[KayJay]

I think they parents have to be parents and make their child eat gluten-free. When child grows up and moves out and chooses not to that is their choice. But until then it is up to the parents to be parents of the child.

[penguin]

It's certainly irresponsible, but so are happy meals 5 nights a week with an ice cream follow-up in front of the Cartoon Network.

I think the only way to determine if non-compliance with the diet is abuse is through the courts. Is there any kind of precedent? Like with a diabetic child?

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Isn't this the opposite of what Cindy is going through on the other thread ("shocking story")? Actually, if the foster parents int that situation are feeding those kids gluten (of course they are), then, as soon as celiac is proved, then I would think that the foster parents are guilty of abuse.

And, yes, I think this is abuse, just as feeding a child any poison that results in severe cramping, diarrhea, etc. would be abuse.

[gfp]

It's certainly irresponsible, but so are happy meals 5 nights a week with an ice cream follow-up in front of the Cartoon Network.

Very true....

[Nic]

It's certainly irresponsible, but so are happy meals 5 nights a week with an ice cream follow-up in front of the Cartoon Network.

I can't see how too much fast food and watching Cartoon Network can be compared to allowing your child to put a toxin in their body that will not only cause physical pain and discomfort but can potientially lead to a deadly situation. I know that fast food 5 days a week will hurt a child as well but we are talking about a disease and a prescibed treatment, a gluten free diet. Would a parent of an insulin dependent diabetic be abusive if they allowed that child to skip treatment so they wouldn't feel different around their peers?

At 15 a child is still a child and is basing there desicions on wanting to be the "same" as everyone else, not on what is best for them. That is our job to do. What they do out of the house and away from us we can only hope they do right, but what they do in our homes, that is up to us to decide.

Nicole

[gfp]

I can't see how too much fast food and watching Cartoon Network can be compared to allowing your child to put a toxin in their body that will not only cause physical pain and discomfort but can potientially lead to a deadly situation. I know that fast food 5 days a week will hurt a child as well but we are talking about a disease and a prescibed treatment, a gluten free diet. Would a parent of an insulin dependent diabetic be abusive if they allowed that child to skip treatment so they wouldn't feel different around their peers?

At 15 a child is still a child and is basing there desicions on wanting to be the "same" as everyone else, not on what is best for them. That is our job to do. What they do out of the house and away from us we can only hope they do right, but what they do in our homes, that is up to us to decide.

Nicole

I think the case of an insulin dependant diabetic is as far from the celiac situation as the celiac situation is from fast food dinners.

Look at it this way, would a Dr. suggest a 3 month trial of what happens if the child doesn't get insulin?

Dr.s suggest everyday that a 3 month gluten challenge is in some way beneficial or non harmful or are they also deliberatly putting a toxin into a child (or adult for that matter) "that will not only cause physical pain and discomfort but can potientially lead to a deadly situation"

If a 15 year old refuses to eat gluten free then what can a parent do about it? If that child is going to take every opportunity to eat gluten when outside the house is there any point going through the motions inside the house?

What can be done? I dunno, send the kid to one of those places for problem kids where he will not only almost certainly eat gluten but also be mentally and possibly physically abused as well?

You can say the same for smoking.... if a 15 yr old is determined to smoke what can you do to stop it. Are you going to physically restrain the child, prevent them going to school or out with friends?

[kabowman]

OK, I hate to get into these debates but, the longer and more often the kid is away from gluten, more and more, and it sounds like at dads house this will be the case, the more sensitive s/he will become and will want to avoid it more and more--on his/her own.

After going through an easy divorce only to go through an ugly custody battle 2 years later because they were having problems getting pregnant and didn't want to pay support any more, that NOBODY wins, especially the kids, and if the parent is feeding him/her gluten you can bet that they will pull every dirty trick in the book with the kid and put them in the middle, where they do NOT belong!!!!!! I have been divorced from my boys' dad for over 10 years now - there is a reason they aren't married any more.

While celiac disease causes all these bad things, yes I know, can lead to cancer, autoimmune, etc., this is short-lived - 3 years, part-time until on their own anyway. Hopefully by then, the gluten will be making him/her understand they can't eat it without getting sick, especially if dad is supportive but doesn't poison against the mom, as she probably IS doing.

This is not right, this is wrong and it is hurting the kid - but which is the lesser evil.

[jesscarmel]

If a child has celiac disease and a parent refuses to enforce the diet, is that parent committing child abuse?

The child knows he has celiac disease and knows that there are long-term health risks. The child is a teenager, age 15.

However, the parent will not stop the child if he tries to eat gluten and often will give him food with gluten, as to not make him feel like he's missing out on what everyone else has.

The parent also has celiac disease and, having gone undiagnosed for many years, herself has serious health problems due to the disease and the damage it caused.

What do you think: child abuse? or is the child old enough to make these decisions for himself?

As a mandated reported, being a social worker, If I had a client with that situation I woudl probably file with DSS becaue i would have no choice as it would be considered medical neglect. we file all the time if a parent does not give a child a psychiatric medication- it is considered medical neglect until the child is 18.

Jess

[kabowman]

What about those of us without social workers?

[Nic]

I think the case of an insulin dependant diabetic is as far from the celiac situation as the celiac situation is from fast food dinners.

Dr.s suggest everyday that a 3 month gluten challenge is in some way beneficial or non harmful or are they also deliberatly putting a toxin into a child (or adult for that matter) "that will not only cause physical pain and discomfort but can potientially lead to a deadly situation"

Hi, my reference to a insulin dependent child was on inferring that the Celiac is equal to the diabetic. It was simply meant to question should we as parent ignore was a doctor perscribes to treat our children because the child does not want to be different? And isn't a gluten challenge only done to prove the Celiac exsists? I was under the assumption that once a person is diagnosed there is no need for a gluten challenge.

As far as a 15 year old cheating on the diet or smoking for that matter, we cannot stop them. But, would you let your 15 year old light up in your house?

Not trying to debate, really very non confrontaional, but I feel very strongly that it is a parents job to protect our children againt harm when we can.

[ravenwoodglass]

While celiac disease causes all these bad things, yes I know, can lead to cancer, autoimmune, etc., this is short-lived - 3 years, part-time until on their own anyway. Hopefully by then, the gluten will be making him/her understand they can't eat it without getting sick, especially if dad is supportive but doesn't poison against the mom, as she probably IS doing.

This is not right, this is wrong and it is hurting the kid - but which is the lesser evil.

When children are growing physically and mentally it is very important that this toxin be removed. The damage they stand to suffer is permanent when it comes to growth difficulties. The emotional damage they may suffer when hormones hit and combine with the neuro effects of gluten can impair their ability to function socially. IMHO this is definately a case of medical neglect. I would do my very best to educate the person who is feeding the child, if they continued to ignore the need for a gluten free life at least at home some intensive counseling for this person would be in order to find out what issues they have with protecting the childs health. We can not control what our kids do out of the home but we can set clear 'rules' for life under our roof, this would apply even if the 'child' is of college age or above.

[gfp]

Hi, my reference to a insulin dependent child was on inferring that the Celiac is equal to the diabetic. It was simply meant to question should we as parent ignore was a doctor perscribes to treat our children because the child does not want to be different? And isn't a gluten challenge only done to prove the Celiac exsists? I was under the assumption that once a person is diagnosed there is no need for a gluten challenge. And in our homes, we should at least try.

As far as a 15 year old cheating on the diet or smoking for that matter, we cannot stop them. But, would you let your 15 year old light up in your house?

Not trying to debate, really very non confrontaional, but I feel very strongly that it is a parents job to protect our children againt harm when we can.

That's OK, I think we both agree "strongly that it is a parents job to protect our children againt harm when we can."

but the problem is the whole thing is a minefield!

As far as a 15 year old cheating on the diet or smoking for that matter, we cannot stop them. But, would you let your 15 year old light up in your house?

That depends, if I thought the option was that 15 yr old going out and scoring some coke or heronine.

Its similar to having a underage child having sex. You might not like it and you can say "not under my roof" but that doesn't stop the problem and in the end having safe sex in the house might be a better option than unprotected sex with someone the parent doesn't even know in his car.

My girlfriends mother was brought up by a very strict (extreme) catholic and wasn't allowed to date guys with cars (because naughty things happen in cars) ... but dated guys on motorcycles and went to the lake instead.

One of my best friends moms at uni was a drug councellor and told him if he wanted to try pot he could do it at home but he most never ever try acid or hard drugs. As it happened my friend wasn't even interested in trying pot ... but perhaps he would if not for this conversation! Who knows

should we as parent ignore was a doctor perscribes to treat our children because the child does not want to be different?

I don't wanna upset you since you obviously don't want to upset others ... but if your child is grossly obese and the Dr. tells you then this is kinda the same. The thing is I think each situation is different.

Kabowman for instance has a unique case because they are all unique.

Criminalising this is going to take away that unique assessement IMHO... once precedent is set it as the word suggests sets precedent for future cases.

we file all the time if a parent does not give a child a psychiatric medication- it is considered medical neglect until the child is 18.

And here is the problem.... does a 110lb single mum get charged because she cannot hold down a 300lb 17 yr old psychotic son while she forces the medication down his throat?

What is the option, putting the guy in care until his 18th birthday ?

Just as another way to look at this

Open Original Shared Link

Quite a few states allow marriage with parental consent at 14. (and New Hampshire at 13 for a female)

IMHO if you are old enough to be married you are old enough to follow a diet or not.

I'm not suggesting 14 is a good age to be married.... but looking at the two side by side ....??

If the 15 yr old was being given gluten against his/her wishes then this is another thing.

[Nic]

That's OK, I think we both agree "strongly that it is a parents job to protect our children againt harm when we can."

but the problem is the whole thing is a minefield!

That depends, if I thought the option was that 15 yr old going out and scoring some coke or heronine.

Its similar to having a underage child having sex. You might not like it and you can say "not under my roof" but that doesn't stop the problem and in the end having safe sex in the house might be a better option than unprotected sex with someone the parent doesn't even know in his car.

My girlfriends mother was brought up by a very strict (extreme) catholic and wasn't allowed to date guys with cars (because naughty things happen in cars) ... but dated guys on motorcycles and went to the lake instead.

One of my best friends moms at uni was a drug councellor and told him if he wanted to try pot he could do it at home but he most never ever try acid or hard drugs. As it happened my friend wasn't even interested in trying pot ... but perhaps he would if not for this conversation! Who knows

I don't wanna upset you since you obviously don't want to upset others ... but if your child is grossly obese and the Dr. tells you then this is kinda the same. The thing is I think each situation is different.

Kabowman for instance has a unique case because they are all unique.

Criminalising this is going to take away that unique assessement IMHO... once precedent is set it as the word suggests sets precedent for future cases.

And here is the problem.... does a 110lb single mum get charged because she cannot hold down a 300lb 17 yr old psychotic son while she forces the medication down his throat?

What is the option, putting the guy in care until his 18th birthday ?

Well, I can only speak for myself and the way I hope to raise my sons when they are 15 (they are only 4 & 5 now). My Celiac will not be eating gluten while in my care and certainly will not be having sex in my house, protected or not . Of course I will teach them how to be safe. I am not naive to what kids do (I am a teacher) but I feel allowing it at home says it is ok. Allowing inappropriate behavior in the house will not stop the inappropriate behavior outside your house, it might just be more inappropriate outside the house. Scary thought, no more debating. This has gotten off topic. To each his own.