Relatives say long prison term for a sick woman isn't right
Posted on 03/16/2002 2:58:07 PM PST by MeekOneGOP
Relatives say long prison term for a sick woman isn't right
Husband blames medical experts for failing to treat wife and protect family
03/16/2002
HOUSTON - Andrea Yates' family sat on separate sides of the courtroom during her four-week trial Mrs. Yates' mother and sibblings behind the defense table, husband Russell and his mother across the room.
They kept their distance after a jury recommended life in prison on Friday, but they agreed on one thing in separate statements to the public: Mrs. Yates also was a victim in the tragic drownings of her five children.
AP "She [Andrea Yates] didn't step up and say anything that was that so outrageous or that made us concerned," Russell Yates told reporters Friday. |
Mr. Yates repeatedly indicted the medical community for his wife's spiraling psychosis that he believes caused her to drown their five children in cold bathtub water June 20.
"She's a victim here, not only of the medical community but of the justice system," Mr. Yates told reporters in a 19-minute question-and-answer session outside the courthouse.
"How could she be so ill and the medical community not diagnose her, not treat her and not protect our family from her?"
Earlier, Mrs. Yates' brother Andrew Kennedy, with their mother, Jutta Kennedy, said that life in prison for his sister is the wrong outcome.
"We as a family don't believe that justice was accomplished here, because we believe a sick person has been sent to prison for 40 years," Mr. Kennedy said, surrounded by Mrs. Yates' defense team. "We hope that in the future, because of the attention that this trial has received ... that other defendants will receive the compassion that she has received from some of you," he said.
"She has told me ... her Lord and savior Jesus Christ is giving her comfort and strength in the place she's in right now, and I know he is for my mom and my family," Mr. Kennedy said.
Mr. Yates stood at a microphone and responded questions about the tragedy as a drizzle began to fall.
He acknowledged often being asked: "Why did you leave her at home that day?"
He responded to that question by asking: "What is the responsibility of a loved one when they have a sick family member? What is the responsibility of a family member who is sick? What is the responsibility of a doctor, hospital or insurance company?"
Mrs. Yates' mental condition had concerned him to the point that he and his mother had relieved her of most household responsibilities, Mr. Yates said.
Family didn't see danger
"Neither of us saw any indication that Andrea was in any danger during that period," he said. "She didn't step up and say anything that was that so outrageous or that made us concerned."
Court testimony and Mrs. Yates' medical records show that as far back as 1994, Mrs. Yates told doctors she had thoughts of harming her children. Mr. Yates has also said that his mother became concerned shortly before her May 2001 hospitalization when Mrs. Yates filled a bathtub with water and failed to explain why.
Asked if he harbored any ill feelings toward his wife, he said, "The only thing that gives me some concern about what happened ... is the fact that she never told me she had any thoughts of harming the children."
But he vowed support for his wife repeatedly, calling her one of the most caring people he had ever met.
Mr. Yates acknowledged that he continually hears himself criticized for fathering the couple's fifth child after his wife's two hospitalizations and suicide attempts in 1999. Psychiatrists testified that Mrs. Yates had severe postpartum depression during that time, following the birth of their fourth child.
Mr. Yates said the psychiatric care and medication she received in 1999 stabilized her and allowed her to resume a normal life.
The couple was told that another child might cause another episode of postpartum depression, he said, but they believed an effective treatment regimen had been established.
"It was supposed to be an easy job for the doctors," he said.
After the couple's fifth child, Mary, was born in November 2000, Mrs. Yates was stricken with depression again. She was hospitalized twice in spring 2001 for less than two weeks each time.
On June 20, she called her husband at work and told him he needed to come home from his job at NASA. She also called 911 to summon police.
"The doctor and the hospital miserably failed us," Mr. Yates said, also citing restrictions on hospitalization and treatment imposed by his health insurance plan.
"She never did get the same combination of medicines that worked in 1999 until she was in jail," Mr. Yates said.
Insurance criticized
Mr. Yates said he wanted to offer advice to anyone who has a loved one facing mental illness: Avoid the limited treatment available through an HMO and find a good doctor, he said.
"Let the doctor treat you. Don't let some caseworker at an insurance company decide your treatment," he said.
Mr. Yates also harshly criticized the gag order imposed by Judge Belinda Hill in his wife's case. The order made it impossible for him to respond to criticism and innuendo aimed at him and his family, he said.
"Not only was it unconstitutional, but it was personally injurious to me," he said.
Judge Hill has not yet said how she plans to proceed with allegations that Mr. Yates violated her gag order.
Asked about his future, Mr. Yates responded: "I don't know practically what's next. It's kind of difficult being separated, not having companionship, not having any more children. That was always important to us."
He said his job as a NASA engineer has no allure for him now.
"I think if I did anything else, I want to help people directly," he said, mentioning medical, legal and spiritual support that he could offer.
Mr. Yates said that his prayers usually involve talking to his five children.
"I will ask them to pray for Andrea. They love their mommy. I know they don't hold this against her. They know that she loved them."
Anne Marie Kilday is a Houston-based free-lancer
"She's a victim here, not only of the medical community but of the justice system," Mr. Yates told reporters in a 19-minute question-and-answer session outside the courthouse. . . .
He acknowledged often being asked: "Why did you leave her at home that day?"
He responded to that question by asking: "What is the responsibility of a loved one when they have a sick family member? What is the responsibility of a family member who is sick? What is the responsibility of a doctor, hospital or insurance company?"
Mrs. Yates' mental condition had concerned him to the point that he and his mother had relieved her of most household responsibilities, Mr. Yates said. . . .
He said his job as a NASA engineer has no allure for him now.
"I think if I did anything else, I want to help people directly," he said, mentioning medical, legal and spiritual support that he could offer.
That's quite a laundry list there, and it sounds like he's going for a book deal or something??
Uh... shouldn't he have helped his wife???
I remember reading when a policeman asked him if he wanted a drink of water that he responded something to this effect, "if you can find a clean glass in the house." Are we to determine that the dishwashing/kitchen care was left to Andrea?
There is something really disturbing about Randy Yates. I want the full story to come out - we haven't heard everything yet.
Like I said on another thread...count on 40 years of candle light vigils and incesant liberal wailings. The complicit media grows weary of War coverage and is eager to prostitute the next malcontent...
Yates is the Soup De Jour...Barf
LOL. Maybe they'll sue all of us.
You can just see attorneys like Cochran sending their resumes to Rusty. Hospitals, doctors, drug companies will be sued for the rest of Rusty's life.....no wonder his job at NASA holds little fascination for him any more with windfall profits about to land on him. He thinks. Does he know how disgusting he is?
Good point. I'm sure the lawyers are lining up to represent him in a malpractice/negligence suit against the last doctor and the HMO.
If you follow the logic of Yates and his sympathizers, it is we [society] who are the criminals. The constant re-allocation of responsibility so seminal to the liberal mindset seems to seek nothing less. If the logic was followed to its conclusion, the world would invert as we know it.
Notice too how the arguement doesn't center around wether or not insanity should be used as a defense (yesterdays arguement). Now the drivel rammed down our throat is that its interpratation isn't broad enough.
Prosecutors 'Seriously Considering' Case
Against Russell Yates (Negligent Homicide)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/647651/posts
Yates said he did not know if he would stay married to his wife, who will not be eligible for parole for 40 years. He also said he did not know whether he would ever have more children with another woman.
The only blame he places on his wife is that he wished she would have told him about having thoughts about harming the children.
"If she had said anything about that, we may have decided not to have any more children," he said.
While the despicable Rusty is out ranting and raving - why doesn't someone refresh his memory to see how he can explain this!!!
Russell Yates needs a good ass whippin.The Harris County DA's Office is considering it! See link at post #15. . .
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
