2023-11-11 20:16:36
Florida verdict
Maya was separated from her parents – hospital has to pay $261 million
After a series of tragic events at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Maya Kowalski’s case ended up in court. Now the hospital has to pay considerable compensation.
Published11. November 2023, 9:16 p.m
Maya Kowalski breaks down in tears as judge orders Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital to pay $261 million in damages.
20 minutes
Maya Kowalski came to Johns Hopkinks Children’s Hospital as a ten-year-old in pain.
The doctors claimed that the parents were abusing their daughter.
After a series of tragic events, the case ended up in court.
On Wednesday, Maya Kowalski, her brother Kyle and their father Jack hugged each other tightly. They cried for joy – a court in Sarasota, Florida, had just ordered Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital to pay $261 million Damages (the equivalent of 235 million francs) to the family.
The doctors at the renowned hospital had accused Maya of faking her illness. The hospital also accused the parents of mistreating their daughter. After social services forbade them to see the child, the story took a tragic turn when Maya’s mother Beata took her own life. For this, Johns Hopkins has now been found guilty of false imprisonment, bodily harm and medical negligence.
Maya Kowalski’s illness
The sad story of the Kowalski family began over ten years ago when Maya suddenly began to feel pain all over her body. A doctor diagnosed the child with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare neurological disorder that causes severe pain with the slightest touch. He prescribed Maya the anesthetic ketamine – she got better.
The diagnosis at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital
In 2016, the ten-year-old was admitted to Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital with stomach pains. The doctors doubted the initial diagnosis and stopped giving Maya ketamine. Mother Beate turned to the doctors and asked that Maya be given ketamine, as treatment with the drug had proven successful in the past. But instead of responding to the mother’s request, the hospital management reported the family to the social welfare authorities.
The complaint once morest Beata Kowalski
Social worker Sally Smith assumed the mother was mentally ill. Specifically, Smith claimed that Beata suffered from Munchausen syndrome. The official’s theory was that her daughter would have developed symptoms of the illness as a result.
The child was subsequently taken into state custody between October 2016 and January 2017. The family was hardly allowed to visit Maya in the hospital; the girl was isolated in a room with surveillance cameras.
Beata Kowalski with her daughter Maya.
Netflix PR
The mother’s suicide
Two and a half months following authorities separated Maya from her family, a judge ruled that Beata should be separated from her child completely. A few days later, the mother took her own life at the age of 43. She left a letter: “I’m sorry, but I can no longer bear the pain of being separated from Maya and being treated like a criminal. I can’t watch my daughter suffer in pain and get worse and worse.”
The life following
Shortly following her mother’s suicide, Maya was released from the hospital and placed in the care of her father. The family accused the hospital of ultimately contributing to Beata’s death with its measures. They filed a lawsuit once morest Johns Hopkins.
“For the first time I feel like I’ve had justice,” said 17-year-old Maya Kowalski outside the courtroom. The teenager is currently attending Duke University and taking part in programs for gifted children.
On Netflix, the documentary “Take Care of Maya” chronicles the Kowalski family’s fight once morest the US healthcare system.
Do you have or hat someone you know having suicidal thoughts? Or have you lost someone to suicide?
You can find help here:
Offered handWorry Hotline, Tel. 143
For Youthadvice for children and young people, Tel. 147
Pro Healthy MindTel. 0848 800 858
Seelsorge.net, Offer from the Reformed and Catholic churches
Muslim pastoral careTel. 043 205 21 29
Jewish welfare, info@vsjf.ch
Children’s Soul Switzerlandadvice for mentally stressed parents and their relatives
Relatives.chadvice and contact points
Association Familientrauerbegleitung.ch
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