The parents of little Grecia Sepúlveda Abreu, had to deliver the baby again this Thursday to the Family Department at the Pediatric Hospital of the Río Piedras Medical Center.
The agency won the appeal that they filed after the Court of First Instance determined to return the little girl to her parents on June 20.
“I HAVE MY SOUL MADE SONGS. FAMILY DEPARTMENT, WHAT IS IT FOR? TO PERSECUTE AND SEPARATE FAMILIES?” wrote the mother, Brenda González, on Facebook.
“As I had anticipated a few days ago, the Department of the Family (DF), in full compliance with our ministerial duty, will exhaust all the necessary resources to protect the minor. For this reason, we went
to the Court of Appeals and this forum accepted our request. In this way, the minor will be protected and in the custody of the DF,” said the interim secretary of the DF, Ciení Rodríguez Troche, in written statements.
Rodríguez Troche had previously stated that investigations and expert evidence that they presented to the court confirmed that the minor does not have the genetic condition, called osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes fragility in the bones. In addition, he alleged that the serious injuries she presented when she arrived at the Auxilio Mutuo hospital emergency room are 100% compatible with abuse.
IN CONTEXT
It all began on November 16 when the parents took the girl to the Auxilio Mutuo hospital due to inflammation in her abdomen. After taking X-rays, fractures were reflected in her body, so the hospital staff activated the abuse protocol, alerting the Family and the Police.
Subsequently, the agency went to court to request custody of the minor, which was denied. However, Family went up and the court ruled in her favor, so she assumed provisional custody of the minor and relocated her to a foster home.
The parents gave Telenoticias documents that show that the fractures in the baby’s body are due to a genetic condition called osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes fragility in the bones. In addition, the mother’s gynecologist confirmed to Telenoticias that he alerted the parents and hospital pediatricians about the girl’s condition from the day of delivery. Likewise, she advised parents to breastfeed as a remedy to strengthen their bones and avoid fractures.
His parents insist that the fractures are due to a health condition. The Department of the Family removed the infant and assures that she has evidence of alleged mistreatment.
“The baby has never presented bruises, bruises, marks or anything for them to conclude that the baby is mistreated,” said the mother, Gabriela Abreu.
The parents’ lawyer, Paulette L’artigaut, pointed out that in court they expressed that, as ordered by the gynecologist, the girl could not be interrupted breastfeeding and that, since the tests reveal the condition of the small, requested the dismissal of the case.
“The Department is negligent if this girl has a condition and they are not being given adequate care,” explained the defense of the parents.
On the other hand, the administrator of the Administration of Families and Children of Puerto Rico (ADFAN), Glenda Gerena, expressed that the doctors to consult in this case are geneticists and not obstetric gynecologists. She also reiterated that the medical evidence obtained by the state supports the allegations of mistreatment.
“We have consulted and we have robust evidence that goes in another direction,” he said.
