Juvenile judge Joseph Johnston approved an agreement between the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Pelletier family to drop the contempt charges against Lou Pelletier for speaking to the media as well as to dissolve the gag order and transfer Justina Pelletier’s medical care to Tufts Medical Center, where she was treated by Dr. Mark Korson 13 months ago before she went to the 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,” says Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel.
“Inmates in Massachusetts are entitled to regular visits, education and medical care,” Staver says. “Justina has been treated worse by DCF than incarcerated felons. She has one-hour, supervised visitation per week, no education and abysmal medical care.”
“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,” Staver continues. “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.”
