Epileptic girl could be at danger in a wilderness program

A recent plea from a step-parent was found on the Internet and it is quiet alarming. A girl suffering from epilepsy was put in a stressful situation far away from health services which are needed to help her overcome a possible seizure.

I looking for anyone who has good information on SUWS of the Carolinas.

My step-daughter is being held there. She was "escorted" there by a transport service 23 days ago. We are trying to get her released and need more information on the conditions of the camp.

She has epilepsy which is a concern, because her seizures are triggered by emotional stress (psychosomatic). We have had a phone conference with the Judge to request her release into our care. The judge doesn't seem to have an issue with awarding us custody of her, as our state says that any child over 14 can request a modification of custody. (Her mother is currently the custodial parent.)

The trouble we are facing is that the judge does not want to release her in the middle of a "therapeutic program" for fear of causing psychological harm. We are looking for good evidence to support that keeping her there would cause more harm than good. We submitted a letter from her psychiatrist that says removing her should not cause harm, but he is not convinced. We have a full hearing set for November 26th.

I am looking to paint a picture for the Judge of what the conditions at SUWS are really like because he just doesn't get it.

If anyone is willing, I need good information on living conditions, hygiene practices, meals, restrictions, pack weights, etc.

Can you help me, please?

That is quiet alarming. People with epilepsy are at an increased risk of death. This increase is between 1.6 and 4.1 fold greater than that of the general population. One of the key issues is stress. Being removed in handcuffs and leg restraints will cause stress. While people suffering from epilepsy are recommended to wear dark glasses being hooded to prevent the participants in wilderness programs to see where they are taken will be a huge risk provoking a seizure.

If a seizure occurs in a wooden area like the one SUWS of the Carolina, the paramedics could face difficulties to land their helicopter and save her life.

We know that a judge will have to rule in this case. Please release this girl now, so she doesn’t end up dying from a seizure far away from the emergency services which could save her life.



Sources:

• The meassage on Reddit
• About the illness on Wikipedia

Age of consent does mean something if you get the chance to alarm the authorities

Several states disallow involuntary treatment of teenagers aged 16 and 17. One such state is South Carolina. Here teenagers age 17 can prevent involuntary treatment by alarming the authorities. Then a court has to decide whether treatment is needed securing the teenager minimum human rights.

Some parents are not aware of these laws when they hire youth transport firms to transport their children out of state to a place where there are fewer human rights for the teenagers. If the teenager becomes aware of the transport the teenager can seek legal protection by the authorities. If the teenager is discovered and liberated by the police during the transport, the teenager can sue the parents and the youth transport firm for unlawful arrest.

However many youth transport firms restrain the teenager and prevent them from alerting anyone because they operate during the night and the teenager is prevented from using any kind of communication devices before it is too late and the teenager has left the case.

In other cases the teenager is lured out of the state as part of a disguised holiday. On the Internet one such case found was the disappearance of Miss Parker from Corvallis. The family returned from a holiday without the teenager.

The friends were alarmed but the damage had been done. The legal protection the teenager might had got inside Oregon was not in place in Arizona which is a state were both boot camps, boarding schools and wilderness programs operates and children have lost their lives while they were involuntary placed in such a place.

The laws must be altered so the authorities can order a teenager returned to the home state for a hearing as soon as it is discovered that a teenager is missing. Otherwise the legal protection is of no or little use.


Sources:

• South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated Current through the end of the 2013 Session
• Facebook group regarding the Corvallis case