--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Black Focus Inc." group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Black-Focus-Inc?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
--- Begin Message ---Show some restraint with kids in transit OUR OPINION: SHACKLING FOSTER CHILDREN HARMS MORE THAN HELPS Posted on Mon, Sep. 08, 2008 reprint print email Facebook Digg del.icio.us AIM It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that sending a mentally ill foster child into a courtroom in handcuffs and leg shackles could be damaging to the child's health and well-being. Understanding this only requires common sense and a touch of decency. However, knowing what is right and actually doing the right thing are concepts that should -- but don't always -- go hand-in-hand. With this in mind, we say to the South Florida hospitals (including Jackson Memorial) that continue to put foster children in these situations: For heaven's sake, please stop. There are better ways of dealing with potentially unruly children when they have to be sent to court hearings or critical medical appointments. For example, the hospitals could allow a security team to accompany the children or, if the concern is so great, consider forgoing the court appearance altogether. They aren't criminals After all, these children aren't delinquent, nor have they committed crimes. Why treat them like criminals? These are children from neglectful or abusive homes who have been placed into the ''protective'' care of the state. Sending them to court in handcuffs and leg shackles shows little regard for the already fragile state of their psyches. The fact that the shackles are made of cloth and not of iron is of little consequence. The message of the restraints from the adults responsible for these youngsters is that they are not to be trusted. A recent Miami Herald story by reporter Carol Marbin Miller described how a 16-year-old Broward County girl was brought into court for a hearing in handcuffs and leg restraints. Two armed deputies provided additional security. Was this excessive? Absolutely. The girl's lawyer explained that restraints were used to keep the mentally ill girl from running away. Change the practice South Florida hospital officials say that relatively few children are restrained in this way and that cuffs and shackles are warranted for a select few children who might flee, or who would be a security risk to themselves or others. Assuming this is true, it is unlikely, however, that these children pose any greater risk than foster children in similar circumstances in other parts of Florida and in other states. In Pinellas County, for example, children considered to be a risk are transported only when additional staff is available to provide security. Circuit Judge John Frusciante, who handled the hearing for the 16-year-old girl, said the situation was ''very disturbing.'' We agree. South Florida hospitals should change this practice. Their first consideration should be to follow the promise of the Hippocratic Oath that medical professionals' foremost responsibility is to not harm the patient. "Unless we embrace 'TRUTH' and recognize 'EVIL', we will find NO Resolutions to 'PEACE"....... --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The People's Drum" group. To post to this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Peoples-Drum?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
--- End Message ---
