Justina Pelletier is the daughter of Lou Pelletier, who took a stand in the malpractice. In addition, she became the talk of the town because of the case filed by her and her parents against the Boston Children’s Hospital and the doctors who mistreated her.
Who Is Justina Pelletier? Biography & Parents
According to the report, Justina Pelletier was abused in the Boston Children’s Hospital, and the controversies peaked after the jury clarified the case. Justina Pelletier accused Boston Children’s Hospital and doctors who treated her locked in a psychiatric ward.
When her parents brought her for a medical check-up at Boston Children's Hospital, it was said that she was only 14 years old at the time. Moreover, it was found that she was on medication for a contentious condition that caused fatigue and other digestive issues.
However, the hospital later claimed that her parents had the child on overmedication, and Justina needed more psychological treatment rather than medical. And then, she was kept in the hospital’s locked psychiatric ward for nine months, where Dr. Collen Ryan was in charge.
Later, after nine months of being in the Psychiatric ward, one day, Justina called her dad, telling him that she was coming back and then since February 2013, Linda and her father have waged a furious and highly publicized custody battle for their daughter, who was under state-ordered care for what was deemed a psychosomatic illness.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families sided with doctors who thought Justina’s illness was psychological. They claimed the Pelletiers were hindering their daughter's healing and accused them of medical child abuse.
In contrast, she was born in 1999, which makes her 23 years old as of the present. Similarly, her exact birth date is not updated on any internet platforms, along with anonymous information about her birthplace. However, she holds an American nationality and belongs to the white ethnic group. In addition, she follows Christianity as her religion.
She has an average height of about 5 feet and 4 inches tall, and her approximate weight is about 57 kg. There Is no information available about her educational background.
Where is Justina Pelletier Now?
Currently, Justina Pelletier is still receiving therapy and living with her parents in Boston. Pelletier is a lot better, as reports say, and she is discharged from the hospital as per the court’s order.
Since then, Justina has stayed with her mom and dad and undergone various treatments for mitochondrial disease. Not only that, but Justina also takes different therapies and physical activity sessions, which have improved her health condition as compared to the previous state. And presently, she has described her improvement in arts and other extracurricular activities through medical and psychological treatments.
What Happened To Justina Pelletier?
The Battle for Justina Pelletier, a documentary story, is a real-life story of a 14-year-old Boston girl who suffered from a rare medical condition. The diagnosis of her mitochondrial disease came in 2011 after she felt fatigued and had digestive problems, which were diagnosed by the doctor and were given large pills and medications.
On 10 February 2013, her parents took Justina to Boston Children's Hospital after she felt severe stomach aches and dehydration. Four days later, the Children's Hospital, with the help of relevant authorities, took the girl under their custody after raiding her house on Valentine's Day.
After the parents disagreed with their opinion, the allegations of child malpractice were also placed on the parents who denied all such claims. In their custody, Boston Children's Hospital limited Pelletier's contact with her parents, with only limited visits and phone calls per week.
The hospital claimed that the girl progressed when her mom and dad were not around and suspected that her parents might be a part of her problem. However, Justina said in the custody that the hospital officials treated her harshly and would often leave her on the toilet when she couldn't defecate and in her wheelchair for a long time.
Soon after, the parents got their daughter back into their care after the court's order and fled a lawsuit against the Children's Hospital for their mistreatment. The trial continued for a few weeks, and the parties had their say on the applied methods. The verdict in the medical malpractice lawsuit brought by the family of Justina Pelletier capped a high-profile dispute that drew national media attention and sparked a broader debate over parental rights.
Justina went to her home as per her request to the court while she was sitting in a chair and pleading plaintively with Johnston in one of the videos. The judge granted the girl's wish after the Massachusetts DCF filed a motion agreeing that the teenager should be returned to her family.