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WESTFIELD - A newly appointed state House committee will hold hearings this month to address concerns raised over the Department of Social Services' oversight of child abuse victim Haleigh Poutre.
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The DSS attempted to end Poutre's life support eight days after she was hospitalized on Sept. 11, 2005, and six days after gaining temporary custody of the girl. The state Supreme Judicial Court, not knowing the girl had been showing signs of improvement the week before, issued a decision on Jan. 17 approving the removal of life support. But the order was never carried out, and now the child is eating, breathing and communicating on her own at a Boston rehabilitation center, family members have said.
DSS officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi ordered the establishment of the committee. It was adopted by the House yesterday.
"This child is not alone, and other children have been or are at risk of being likewise victimized," said state Rep. Geoffrey D. Hall, D-Westport, chairman of the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight and a member of the 11-member committee, which also includes state Rep. Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield.
Hearings to deal with child abuse
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