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Teen's Navel Piercing Lands Mother In Jail
The Denver Channel ^

Posted on 08/09/2005 6:57:08 AM PDT by Millee

Authorities have charged a Massachusetts woman whose daughter nearly died after trying to pierce her own navel.

Prosecutors say the mother failed to seek medical treatment after the 13-year-old developed a near-fatal infection.

Deborah Robinson faces a felony count of permitting bodily injury to a child under 14, and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment.

Authorities say the girl was likely in extreme pain within a day or two after the start of her infection, which caused organ damage. She was hospitalized last week after family members called paramedics to the home, where she was found emaciated and near death.

Prosecutors say she remains in critical but stable condition and is being given large doses of antibiotics.

A judge has also ordered the mother to undergo a mental evaluation.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: donottrythisathome; piercing; selfmutilation
I'm wondering if daughter didn't tell mom about her piercing & subsequent pain.
1 posted on 08/09/2005 6:57:09 AM PDT by Millee
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To: Millee

I agree. Kid probably didn't tell mom.


2 posted on 08/09/2005 6:59:55 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: Millee
The lack of Info is absolutely amazing in this article :)

I am leaning towards agreeing with you about daughter not letting mom in on the secret. The part that keeps throwing me is this "A judge has also ordered the mother to undergo a mental evaluation." Is this standard fair in child abuse cases concerning parents and offspring, or is mom a little loony?
3 posted on 08/09/2005 7:02:08 AM PDT by tfecw (Vote Democrat, It's easier than working)
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To: Millee

In our state, you have to be 18 to get piercings, or parental consent. And, they are very strict about checking ID's because of the threat of losing their license.


4 posted on 08/09/2005 7:04:01 AM PDT by Indy Pendance
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To: tfecw
I am leaning towards agreeing with you about daughter not letting mom in on the secret. The part that keeps throwing me is this "A judge has also ordered the mother to undergo a mental evaluation." Is this standard fair in child abuse cases concerning parents and offspring, or is mom a little loony?

I disagree. The girl was described as "emaciated and near death," which generally is not a condition one can hide from one's mother. There's more to the story here -- and I think it's probably stuff about the mom. (Where's dad?)

5 posted on 08/09/2005 7:07:23 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: Millee
Teen's Navel Piercing Lands Mother In Jail

Now, if said teen had only sought to have a baby's skull collapsed and its brains sucked out, on the other hand...

6 posted on 08/09/2005 7:07:43 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle ("As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-G-d, PRO-LIFE..." -- FR founder Jim Robinson)
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To: Millee

Our neighbors daughter had a tiny pierced belly botton stub by a so called "professional" at the mall,without her mother's permission or knowledge and it got infected,it was her friends who convince her to tell her mom, she was lucky. Why these kids have to deface their bodies is beyond me.


7 posted on 08/09/2005 7:09:23 AM PDT by newfrpr04
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To: Indy Pendance
Saw the tail end of one of those news tapes that run across the bottom of your screen. . .thought I saw that the girl did the piercing herself. Explains a lot. . .possibly with mama's help.
8 posted on 08/09/2005 7:12:27 AM PDT by Gunrunner2
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To: Gunrunner2

I agree. There's way more to this story, and mom is up to her neck in this. 2 of my daughters wanted their belly pierced, and we said absolutely no way. We got the, "But, all the kids are doing it" whine. When they turned 18, they did it. Can't stop them when they are legal adults.


9 posted on 08/09/2005 7:16:09 AM PDT by Indy Pendance
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To: Millee; mtbopfuyn; tfecw; r9etb; Indy Pendance

According to other published versions of this story, the doctors estimated that the infection had been in a very serious state for 2-4 weeks. Paramedics also found the girl in her apartment with an oxygen mask already on. And the mother reportedly exhibited paranoia about doctors, etc. It appears that the mother tried to home-treat the infection WAY past the point where it was obvious that professional medical attention was urgently needed.


10 posted on 08/09/2005 8:44:32 AM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: Millee

There is much more to this story! The girl was down to 75 lbs by the time the authorities found her and was suffering from several infections. Doctors are estimating that she spent at least 2 weeks in extreme pain. There is no way the mother could hae missed this. She was either disciplining or ignoring the kid. The mother has been investigated twice before for neglect. Kids do stupid things. No kid deserves this kind of torture. The mother's evaluation is just a formality. She deserves to get sent away for a good long time.


11 posted on 08/09/2005 8:47:36 AM PDT by danno3150
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To: Millee

Perhaps the most misleading headline of the day...


12 posted on 08/09/2005 8:47:36 AM PDT by BlueNgold (Feed the Tree .....)
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To: danno3150

You're right. Story was very incomplete as written. Thanks for the extra info!


13 posted on 08/09/2005 8:49:24 AM PDT by Millee (Earth First! We'll log the other planets later!)
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To: GovernmentShrinker

Thanks. As expected....


14 posted on 08/09/2005 9:11:46 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: GovernmentShrinker

Why are these so called "reporters" still employed when they can't report the whole story?


15 posted on 08/09/2005 9:12:13 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: mtbopfuyn

Maybe because they're too dumb to get a real job?


16 posted on 08/09/2005 10:11:33 AM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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