>From what you describe this mother is negligent, which is a reportable
>offense. As part of the health care team we are obligated to report this as
>well as cases where there are signs of abuse to whomever is the proper
>authority in the USA state in which we reside (federal mandate of Child Abuse
>Prevention and Treatment Act, 1974). The mom may have a behavioral or
>emotional disorder influencing the negligence, but this still is more than a
>matter of "complying" with treatment interventions.

Hi Karen, You are right, I felt this was abuse also and followed it up as
such.  And it is an extreme example, but there are others less extreme.  I
can accept mothers who choose to bottle feed instead of breastfeed (I have
to be able to, it happens all the time) but mothers who choose to do
neither very well get me very upset.   Judging them on "compliance" may be
my way of expressing to colleagues the irritation I feel with these
mothers.  They still seem "non-compliant" to me, and likely always will.
But I wouldn't use the term to explain someone choosing a legitimate option
not of my personal preference.

BTW, this case did not have a satisfactory resolution, and it continues to
bother me. I do have a hard time of letting go of feeling responsible for
babies--I feel shame at not having been able to rescue the child.

Arly Helm

[log in to unmask] (Arly Helm, LC)