Boston, MA – Today Juvenile Judge Joseph Johnston approved an agreement between Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Pelletier family to drop the contempt charges against Lou Pelletier for speaking to the media, dissolve the gag order, and transfer medical care to Tufts Medical Center, where she was treated by Dr. Mark Korson 13 months ago before she went to Boston Children’s Hospital ER. “DCF needs to return custody to Justina Pelletier’s parents, and DCF should be held accountable for the tragic abuse inflicted by this incompetent agency on the family,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.
“Inmates in Massachusetts are entitled to regular visits, education, and medical care. Justina has been treated worse by DCF than incarcerated felons. She has one-hour, supervised visitation per week, no education, and abysmal medical care,” said Staver. “DCF has knowingly violated the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, because the agency has refused to provide Justina with any education for two academic years, let alone the education to which she is entitled to receive because of her learning disability. For 13 months, DCF has refused to allow any clergy to visit Justina. And on top of it all, DCF has lost track of 134 children in its custody. How can you trust a government agency that acts like this? Someone should be held accountable,” said Staver.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
