63°Ohio parents admit denying ailing son medical care
Jan 12
2012
The parents of an 8-year-old boy who died from Hodgkin lymphoma after suffering for months from undiagnosed swollen glands have pleaded guilty to denying him medical treatment.
Monica Hussing, 37, and William Robinson Sr., 40, both of Cleveland, face up to eight years in prison at sentencing. They pleaded guilty Monday to attempted involuntary manslaughter in a last-minute plea deal before their trial was about to begin.
Willie Robinson collapsed at his home on March 22, 2008. Prosecutors say he had begged his parents to take him to see a doctor but was rejected. Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly treatable cancer.
Hussing's attorney, John Luskin, said his client took responsibility in the case but, given her education and background, didn't realize the boy was seriously ill and was treating him with cold medication.
"She is a mother that just did not have the capability to recognize" cancer, Luskin said Wednesday.
Robinson's lawyer, Thomas Rein, called it a "sad, horrific case" that drew him inquiries from the White House as changes to federal health care law were being considered in 2009.
"Had he had regular health coverage, it possibly could have prevented this," Rein said of the boy's death.
Luskin and Rein said the parents had financial problems and tried to get checkups for their children but couldn't afford it.
"The kid had what appeared to be swollen glands," Luskin said. "This was not a tumor that was getting bigger. It would come and go. He would have his good days, he would have his bad days."
Hussing's daughter, Lillian Hussing, said the family didn't have money for medical care when they lived in Warren, tried repeatedly to get help from social services and visited a free clinic but left when told they would have to pay $180.
"We did not know it was cancer," she said. "We tried and tried to get help and were denied every time," said the daughter, who's 18.
The family soon moved to Cleveland and the boy died within weeks.
Prosecutors say that while the boy was suffering, the parents claimed financial hardship but paid $87 to have a pit bull treated for fleas. Luskin said the dog belonged to Hussing's parents and her parents paid for the treatment.
Trumbull County Children Services says it had worked with the family to provide Willie health care, getting involved after receiving a phone call in July 2007. Agency officials said a case worker visited the family at least monthly and pushed the parents to have a medical follow-up on his swollen neck but they didn't.
However, Rein said a social worker who visited the family in January 2008 "indicated the kids were healthy and happy." He said no one knew the boy had cancer until he died and an autopsy was performed.
And Lillian Hussing said a case worker had told the family the boy's lump looked like a swollen gland and to hold off until they could secure financial assistance before getting it checked.
About two weeks after they moved to Cleveland, she said, her brother came down with something. Her mother treated him with cold medicine and he died within three days.
She said the boy never complained about his neck.
"He played, he went outside, he wrestled, he played video games," the boy's sister said. "He was the happiest kid you could imagine. It never seemed like he was suffering."
The emotional aftermath from their son's death led the couple to split, according to Luskin.
The couple's four other children under 18 were placed in the custody of a family member. Luskin said the daughter, upon turning 18, decided to return to live with her mother.
Rein said Robinson agreed to plead guilty so his children could be spared any further grief and wouldn't have to suffer by testifying. Lillian Hussing said her mother took a plea bargain because of the uncertainty of a trial and fear she could be sent to prison for a long time.
As part of the deal, the prosecution agreed to drop four counts each against each parent, including child endangering. Prosecutors didn't agree to a sentence recommendation. Both Luskin and Rein said they hope the judge will consider probation.
"There's not a day my client ... starts without shedding a tear for his son," Rein said.
The coroner ruled that the boy was a victim of medical neglect and died from pneumonia due to Hodgkin lymphoma.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly treatable cancer, with as many as 95 percent of patients in early stages of the disease surviving for five years or more with treatment. It's one of the most common forms of cancers among children.
Dr. Stanton L. Gerson, director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University, said parents should watch for glands that are swollen for more than two or three weeks, particularly if accompanied by weight loss and nighttime fevers.
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07:38 PM
Mehlowa899 says
woooow why would the parents not take him to the hospital or get a check up just to be sure come on now, Have some common since forreal.............. enough said............. poor lil boy had to go thru all that just cuz his parents wouldnt take him to the hospital
10:54 PM
DGMutley says
OMG! What a travesty this is!
"We did not know it was cancer," she said. "We tried and tried to get help and were denied every time," said the daughter, who's 18.
"Monica Hussing, 37, and William Robinson Sr., 40, both of Cleveland, face up to eight years in prison at sentencing. They pleaded guilty Monday to attempted involuntary manslaughter in a last-minute plea deal before their trial was about to begin."
Cracked Cherry read the post from Informed.
Man4451 you're right!
It doesn't get any worse than this, does it? The kid dies from lack of medical help and the parents go to jail for being poor.
10:37 PM
SamAdams says
sanduskysteve,
New study: health insurance premiums will rise 55% to 85% under Obamacare
http://tinyurl.com/7z36yyx
The study was released a couple of months ago, and focuses on the state of Ohio. It was conducted at the state's request so that it could plan for provisions going into effect in 2014.
If you call 55% to 85% increases comparable to "slight decreases," then you're right. Otherwise...
I don't argue that the system needs to be improved. It's just that Obamacare is NOT the way to do it. In relatively short order, insurance companies will go under. I suspect that that's the intent, though. Then we can all rely on the government, and Obamacare will become etched in stone.
Consider also the increased number of doctors leaving the profession and those never entering medical school in the first place thanks to this nonsense. It's terrifying! Oh, and by the way? Here's some icing on the cake for you: There ARE "death panels" in Obamacare, too.
Tennessee tried something like Obamacare and went broke in something like 18 months. As I recall, Hawaii is dealing with comparable issues. Massachusetts has had it for a few years, and now IT'S going broke. Our national debt just surpassed our ENTIRE GDP the other day! Obamacare, even if it would work, is unaffordable and unsustainable. And it won't work. If so many have such faith that it will, why are there so many waivers being requested? (And that so many waivers are being granted leads me to believe even those behind Obamacare know it won't work!)
As imperfect as the current system is, this country still has the best healthcare in the world. Do some things need fixing? Yes. But you don't fix ANYthing by breaking everything, and that's what Obamacare is about to do.
09:03 PM
katelih says
Wow...at 8 years old, the boy was smarter than his parents. HE told THEM to take him to the doctor..How often do you hear a kid say that ?
06:16 PM
Cracked Cherry says
They should of taken the child to th ER. The worst thing financially that would of happened to the parents is wage garnishment from the hospital and doctors. But the child would still be alive most likely. The parents are to blame for the death of this 8 year old child. What about people that believe in faith healing? Should they be charged also? If it is a child involved I think so.
05:45 PM
Informed says
SamAdams, an ER is not going to diagnose or treat cancer...they will stabilize a patient, do a few tests, and treat the symptoms, then discharge the patient telling them to follow up with a doctor. Many doctors nowdays will review your insurance, credit history, etc before deciding they will take you on as a patient. And many doctors do not accept Medicaid. If you have bad credit, past due bills, foreclosures, bankruptcy, etc. on your record, many doctors will not take you as a new patient.
Something has to be done in this country. There are many working people in this country without insurance who cannot afford insurance. Cancer can strike anyone.
Not excusing these parents, this whole thing sounds like a mess.
04:03 PM
sanduskysteve says
sam adams - although you are right in some of what you say - but let's see - apparently many people are supporting Romney even though he is the creator of what you say is not a good system. I agree with you about that - and Romney is going around now and agreeing with you - but only because it will benefit him in the election.
As for increased insurance premiums - there is no evidence of that - more policy holders should reduce costs slightly. Longer waits to see a doctor - probably makes sense if there are more people attempting to get in to see a doctor and with eliminating existing conditions (as it should be) will probably be even more people in line to see a doctor. But that isn't due to bad obamacare, but due to more people attempting to get heathcare whom were not able to do so before this.
Without something in place to help people get cheaper insurance and eliminate existing conditions - more people will be in trouble. And if it turns into an emergency - they will get treated at the ER and everyone else will pay for it. Seems to me this in itself will help in reducing the cost of healthcare - not increasing it.
Can't tear something apart until you see it at work first. Lots of negatives without lots of proof since it hasn't even happened yet.
02:58 PM
SamAdams says
Swollen glands off and on? The kid felt fine off and on? Unless you're a doctor or a nurse with an awareness that sometimes swollen glands aren't JUST swollen glands, I'll bet there are a LOT of parents — with and without insurance — who wouldn't have taken the boy to a doctor! I'm well aware that there are people who head straight for the emergency room if they sneeze, but a lot of us don't for reasons including, but not limited to, money. cockynurse is apparently a nurse, and SHE'S not condemning these poor people the way some of you are. That probably means something...
man4451, you need to familiarize yourself with Obamacare. Under Obamacare, most of us will pay MORE for insurance and healthcare. Most of us will see our healthcare options MORE limited, not less. Most of us will see LONGER waits for appiontments, not shorter. And yes, I have personally checked insurance premiums. I've also, however, read a good number of the reports coming from the federal government itself, and they concur.
Republicans aren't selfish and greedy. They just tend (in general) to have more financial sense than do Democrats (in general). Unions aren't necessarily selfish and greedy, either (although they ARE hypocrites given that they backed Obamacare and are now the leaders in requests for waivers FROM Obamacare).
And no, this family isn't going to jail because they couldn't afford insurance. They're going to jail because they didn't get medical care for their son. Go ahead, go to an emergency room, and watch them refuse treatment because you can't pay. Here's a helpful hint: They won't.
sanduskysteve, Republicans don't believe that there shouldn't be affordable health insurance available to Americans. They just don't believe Obamacare is the way to get it done. Turns out they're right. Imagine that. (Look at Massachusettes and the fact that Romneycare is already broke for starters...)
01:01 PM
sanduskysteve says
Cockynurse - you are absolutely right about the DCFS's involvement in this. And according to the article, there were some workers who were there and gave the boy a clean bill of health - if the social worker didn't think anything was wrong, then who the heck could the parents be blamed for this?
There is something really wrong with this whole picture from front to back. Also, what was DCFS involved in this anyway? If the family was on assistance - then the kids would have had medicaid - wouldn' t they?? That would have paid for everything involving the kids.
DCFS involved in making visits for what reason?
Too many unanswered questions in this yet to make a decision and I think the acceptance of the plea bargan was a little premature as well in light of all of these questions.
Or did I miss something really big in this article?
12:55 PM
sanduskysteve says
A lot of hypocracy here that I am reading.
First, those who keep saying the parents should have gone to get medical care even if they can't afford it - would have been slammed by the republican group as liberals who just take from the rest of us. And at the same time it's those same republicans who do not believe there should be affordable health insurance.
Not sure that the comment about having money for cigarettes was too far off base - a carton of cigarettes costs upwards of 50 bucks now and the average smoker will purchase at least one a week. If both parents are smoking -t hen this would be close to 400.00 a month for cigarettes - that could have purchased insurance - even today. On the other hand, it could be they don't smoke that much - but to man4451 - I believe this was the issue Answer Person was attempting to make with the comment.
As for the dangers of obamacare - still not sure on this one. Obama's healthcare does not give anyone free healthcare - you still have to buy it - it just makes insurance a little more affordable for those on limited incomes. There is no taxpayer paid healthcare for anyone and so I'm still not convinced it should be abolished - just yet anyway. But in the meantime - something needs to be done to allow people on limited income to obtain medical care without being called lazy freeloaders by the right.
And those on the right - don't try and say this isn't what would happen becuase you guys sit here all day long on various articles and post this same kind of crap and talk about the lazy liberals who just take and take and live off the rest of us.
12:50 PM
cockynurse says
Here's a question:
If Children's Services visited the home at least monthly and urged the parents to seek medical attention for this child-they, clearly, felt as if something was wrong with this child. After their recommendations were not followed-why did they not take measures to remove the boy and get him the medical attention he needed? Is Children's Services not equally at fault for not recognizing the symptoms of this disease and not stepping up? I mean-if the state believes the parents should've recognized something more was wrong-should not have DCFS?
Side note-I do not believe it is the State's responsibility to take care of anybody besides the sick and truthfully disabled, elderly, and children...people who can not help themselves/ Our social welfare system is abused to the point it makes me sick. Helping someone down on their luck should be temporary-extremely temporary. Welfare is not a career. I just had to throw this in for the nay-sayers who will bash my comment for the ideation of the government taking care of everybody.
12:37 PM
cockynurse says
This is just a tragic case. Hindsight is 20/20. Kids get sick. Some parents rush their children to the doctors and ER at the first sign of a sniffle. Some parents try to treat their children at home first and end up in the ER because they were treating symptoms with a larger underlying condition in which their at home treatments were inadequate. It should be difficult to pass judgment unless you knew all of the specifics of the case and have an expertise in the field.
How horribly sad.
12:02 PM
man4451 says
boy the CLOWNS are out today,
First thing there concernedtruth, its NOT obama care, its REALLY Mitt Romney CARE. This is the SAME program Mit started in Mass.
and to the The Answer Person if you really think a pack of CIGARETTES will cover the cost of medical insurance or anyother medical bill, your way off base. Very Funny.
11:22 AM
Shell0709 says
OH PLEASE! Are you telling me that this is ALL the governments fault? If they loved their son as much as they claim they would have taken him somewhere! As if there aren't plenty of free clinics around that area! I would go through Hell and back for my children. Insurance or not! They could have done something! P.S. there's no room for cynical A**holes in Heaven! I would consider changing your ways too!
10:42 AM
getaclue says
This is tragic. The parents should have found a specialist and taken on the bill. However, I can see why they let the illness exit their minds if the kid was not constantly complaining. My husband's mother battled Hodgkins his entire life and passed away two days before his nineteenth birthday. There were times when life was normal and you thought nothing of a possible illness. A child may not even state all the things that would be an issue because a child knows it will get them medicine they don't want and keep them from doing what they want to do.
So, basically, this is a bad problem to deal with and the education of how exactly to deal with it is not always visible. Its one of those stories that you say they are horrible people that may be suffering too, but not exactly sure how to deal with it.
10:10 AM
concernedtruth says
man4451, SHAME SHAME on You, You are way off base with your accusations. You should repent for being so judgemental. I am a Republican and I was layed off back in 2009 because of your Democratic controlled government and had no insurance when my wife was in the hospital and found out she has a bad heart. My bills were over $100K and no job and no insurance, but I still took her to the hospital to get her treated and thank GOD I did because she wouldn't be with me today. It isn't about this sham ObamaCare it is about what the parents should have done and that was to seek medical help. Now they have lost a child and will always wonder what would of been. I pray for them and for their loss, they will always think of this and look back and think "what if". Let them grieve and you need to be thankful that we do have hospitals and doctors that will treat you even when you can't afford it, or I would be a widower after over 30 years of marriage. And by the way I am a Christian and I if you would know scripture you wouldn't be so judgemental.
09:55 AM
The Answer Person says
One thing I know that we can ALL agree on here is that these people had money for CIGARETTES.
They deserve life in prison or execution which would be cheaper.
08:52 AM
man4451 says
HURRAY for the Republicans and Unions. You people REALLY need cheerleaders. GO GO GO. this family is going to jail because they could not afford medical insurance for there family. Your votes put this child in the ground not his parents. YOU people are selfish and greedy. You all will need to REPENT, but I don't think its going to work. No matter how you murder, it is still murder. So repent if you can.
may God have mercy on your soul, if you still HAVE ONE. or is Money your God today.