A 12 year old boy died and his mother is being charged in his death, but why not the school nurse that observed the boy?
From the LVRJ: She didn’t kill her son, police said, but she let him die.
The stepmother of a 12-year-old boy who died last year has been charged with murder after police said she ignored his symptoms of appendicitis for a week.
Kalinda Mercado, 41, was charged last month in the Feb. 4, 2012, death of stepson Emmanuel Mercado.
Emmanuel first showed signs of illness on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, when he vomited in the courtyard at Johnson Junior High School.
A school nurse notified Mercado, but she refused to pick him up from school and Emmanuel took the bus home, police said. Police said Emmanuel’s condition worsened over the weekend, but he wasn’t taken to a doctor.
Emmanuel returned to school on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, and complained again of severe stomach pain. The school nurse, suspecting the boy might be suffering from appendicitis, called Mercado. The stepmother suspected Emmanuel was “only trying to avoid going to class,” according to the police report.
“It was relayed to Mrs. Mercado that he may be able to fake stomach pain, but not the fever,” the report said. The nurse told Mercado she suspected appendicitis and Emmanuel immediately needed a doctor.
Mercado took the boy from school that morning, but did not take him to a doctor, police said. She later called the nurse and claimed she called a doctor, who advised Emmanuel take a Tylenol for the fever. Emmanuel had a bowel movement and was feeling better, Mercado told the nurse.
But the boy’s condition worsened throughout the week. He vomited after eating dinner Wednesday night, but was only given Alka-Seltzer, police said.
On Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, Emmanuel went to school and immediately contacted the nurse. He complained of leg pain. A nurse told police the boy was dehydrated, pale, could barely walk and his finger tips were blue.
Mercado called Desert Valley Pediatrics and scheduled an appointment for 3:45 p.m., despite earlier appointments being available, police said. Emmanuel was taken home later that morning.
Emmanuel never made it to the doctor. He collapsed while being taken to the family car about 3 p.m. and went into cardiac arrest. Before he collapsed, the boy could not walk or see, police said. http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/crime-courts/las-vegas-stepmother-charged-murder-after-boy-died-appendicitis
The school nurse or First Aide Assistant who saw the boy on several occasions should have contacted Child Protective Services, at the minimum because of the medical neglect. They are required to report any suspected child abuse or neglect and clearly, this is a case of neglect and the CCSD nurse should be investigated for failing to report the neglect.
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