Doctors, ethicists say parents should lose custody of super-obese kids in extreme cases

Calypso

Calypso

CHICAGO - Should parents of extremely obese children lose custody for not controlling their kids' weight? A provocative commentary in one of the most distinguished medical journals in the United States argues yes, and its authors are joining a quiet chorus of advocates who say the government should be allowed to intervene in extreme cases.

It has happened a few times in the U.S., and the opinion piece in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association says putting children temporarily in foster care is in some cases more ethical than obesity surgery.

Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity specialist at Harvard-affiliated Children's Hospital Boston, said the point isn't to blame parents, but rather to act in children's best interest and get them help that for whatever reason their parents can't provide.

State intervention "ideally will support not just the child but the whole family, with the goal of reuniting child and family as soon as possible. That may require instruction on parenting," said Ludwig, who wrote the article with Lindsey Murtagh, a lawyer and a researcher at Harvard's School of Public Health.

"Despite the discomfort posed by state intervention, it may sometimes be necessary to protect a child," Murtagh said.

But University of Pennsylvania bioethicist Art Caplan said he worries that the debate risks putting too much blame on parents. Obese children are victims of advertising, marketing, peer pressure and bullying
 
"Healthier food often costs more"

No doubt about that statement and it begs the question why are there so many low, to no quality "foods" permitted in the market place. Before any government agency should be permitted to remove a child, the government should be sure that it is not a part of the problem. Now I do not, in any way advocate government in the kitchen or bedroom, but government does have a responsibility to ensure that dangerous products are not allowed to be sold, or are controlled. Look at the diets of these obese kids and you will certainly find fast foods, soft drinks, chips and other high sugar foods. It is not a secret that these foods are fattening, it's been known for decades, but they are dirt cheap to buy compared to healthy foods and that is where government is at fault. Stop making junk food more accessible and affordable than good healthy foods. It's just plain common sense but sadly, there seems to be a very short supply of common sense floating around these days. Again JMO
 
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