Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital in Florida has been blamed for the unnatural death of Beta Kowalski, who committed suicide and whose ordeal was chronicled in the Netflix documentary “Caring for Maya.”
The hospital was found liable for multiple claims, including Beata’s wrongful death and infliction of emotional distress on her, as well as confinement, assault and infliction of emotional distress, according to CourtTV, which broadcast the verdict live, as well as WFTS and WTSP. For her daughter Maya. The hospital was also held liable for fraudulent billing by Maya’s father, Jack Kowalski. The Kowalski family was awarded more than $211 million, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
As previously reported by People magazine, Maya was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) as a child, a rare neurological disease in which the slightest touch can cause severe pain.
In 2016, she was admitted to Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital with stomach pains. There, hospital staff reported to the Department of Children and Families after Beata requested ketamine treatment from Maya, saying the drug had helped her daughter in the past.
As a result of her request, Beata was accused by agents of having Munchausen syndrome. A psychological examination ultimately determined she did not suffer from a mental illness. However, she was detained by the state and hospitalized away from her family for more than three months, People magazine previously reported.
Beata died by suicide in January 2017 at the age of 43, just over two months after losing her daughter. “I’m sorry,” she wrote in an email discovered after her death, “but I can no longer bear the pain of being separated from Maya and being treated like a criminal.” I couldn’t watch my daughter suffer and get worse. “
In a statement to PEOPLE after the verdict, defense attorney Howard Hunt, representing Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital, said, “Hopkins Children’s Hospital has a long history of reporting suspected child abuse and the confirmation of those suspicions. “Florida’s mandatory reporting laws were followed.” The district court fully complied with Department of Children and Families (DCF) orders and court orders. We are committed to defending the important duty of mandated journalists to report suspected child abuse and protect the smallest and most vulnerable among us. “
The statement continued: “The facts and the law remain on our side, and we will continue to provide Maya Kowalski with the life-saving and compassionate care provided by the doctors, nurses and staff at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital. “The duty to defend all.” In Florida, reporters must speak up if they suspect child abuse. “
