Inquest Examines Parents' Role In Obese Boy's Death

[icyfroth]

A NSW coroner is investigating how a 10-year-old boy died of obesity-related complications despite repeated warnings from doctors and state government departments.

The Newcastle boy, who cannot be identified, died of a massive brain injury in September 2010 due to a lack of oxygen related to his morbid obesity, the Newcastle Herald reports.

The coronial investigation is probing the role of the boy's parents, the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Education and Training in his death.

The boy, who suffered from sleep apnoea, had a lengthy

history of medical problems and was provided with a weight management plan by doctors at John Hunter Children's Hospital as far back as 2007.

As a seven-year-old he weighed more than 50kg and had a body mass index double that of a healthy boy of his age.

The Department of Family and Community Services were also aware of the boy's situation, with the child the subject of four "risk of harm" reviews between 2008 and 2010

The reviews were triggered by the boy's morbid obesity and related health issues and his parents' drug use.

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My comment? It's all very well to collect the baby bonus but you should still look after your kids.

[icyfroth]

Too many kids conceived for the baby bonus, not enough "straight" parents imo

[toon_town_nutter]

Dunno it seems they'd have spent far more than the baby bonus money they got on food to fatten him up that good.

[icyfroth]

dunno  it seems they fed him up without concern for his nutritional needs just stuffed junk food into him.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@**meep** wrote:

The coronial investigation is probing the role of the boy's parents, the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Education and Training in his death.

Opens up the school weigh ins debate, doesnt it?

http://www.medicaldaily.com/fat-letters-and-annual-weigh-ins-questioned-should-schools-measure-and-r...

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I don't think it would have needed a school "weigh-in" to determine that that poor kid was abese.

[twinkles**stars]

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@lis351 wrote:

Did the boy suffer any health issues that caused his weight?

Not from what I have read. He suffered a poor upbringing, drug addled parents, a childrens services dept. stretched too far to help him. Could a health issue really cause a 10 year old to weigh 70kg??

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70kg? Where does it say that?

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Lis, something like Prader Willi (chromosomal disorder) could cause it especially with parents who weren't motivated to carry out interventions, but that would normally be picked up earlier, although as it is rare it isn't always recognized by GPs.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@icyfroth wrote:

Too many kids conceived for the baby bonus, not enough "straight" parents imo

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Junkies don't tend to be long term planners. I can't seriously imagine that mother saying : "why don't I get pregnant, then in 9 months time we can hahve lots of lovely drug money."

[**meep**]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

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@**meep** wrote:

The coronial investigation is probing the role of the boy's parents, the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Education and Training in his death.

Opens up the school weigh ins debate, doesnt it?

http://www.medicaldaily.com/fat-letters-and-annual-weigh-ins-questioned-should-schools-measure-and-r...

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I don't think it would have needed a school "weigh-in" to determine that that poor kid was abese.

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I was referring to the debate of schools' involvement...an early intervention to prevent this in the future.

[icyfroth]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

Too many kids conceived for the baby bonus, not enough "straight" parents imo

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Junkies don't tend to be long term planners. I can't seriously imagine that mother saying : "why don't I get pregnant, then in 9 months time we can hahve lots of lovely drug money."

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oh really?

why not imagine that ppl don't worry too much about "family planning" when they know that after their "union" they might have the living proof to claim a baby bonus?

Which they can then spend on "whatever".

As for my imaginings, I don't imagine  $3k going too far on "drug money".

[the_hawk*]

typical system failure, many knew of the problem and non acted, result = 1 dead child