I first saw this story on the Dr Phil show, as a repeat last year sometime. I then stumbled across a blog with a discussion about it, and then another, and another. IT is certainly an amazing and very controversial story. Is Jani schizophrenic, or isn't she? Should she be given medicine, or shouldn't she? Are the parents fit, or aren't they? Should it be so publicised, and if so what purpose does that serve? Should we give the parents sympathy, or condemnation? Are there too few doctors available, or too many?
These and many more questions have been debated at length, because they challenge the boundaries of our currently held view points.
My answer, to all of them, is "I don't really know". I'm not in that situation, I don't know enough about it. But of course, I have an opinion on some of the issues raised. Child safety is in the public interest as well as in the parents' interest.
What I know is that childhood schizophrenia is a controversial diagnosis. We don't know much about it, and some say that it doesn't exist. However, if a recognised specialist in the area believes that Jani has it, then for all intents and purposes, she has it, for who else is qualified to say so? Especially when there seems to be no better explanation.
Assuming then, that she does have childhood schizophrenia, there is the question of medication. Not much is known about the exact effects of psychiatric medication on the developing brain. However it's known that in adults, medication can stop psychosis. We know that psychosis damages the brain in adults, though anti-medication activists can forget this sometimes. But we don't know, in children, which one is more damaging, the psychosis or the anti-psychotics. My money is on giving the child the medication rather than withholding it. But it's only a slightly educated guess. We need more research (that doesn't use the children as lab rats).
Is there an alternative? Well social-environmental projects such as Soteria have had some success with young adults. Jani's current environment doesn't seem conducive to generating improvement. Which brings me to my next point - are they fit parents?
The quotes from the father's blog are quite disturbing - he seems to have a problem with anger and violence, and a tendency toward narcissism - not an ideal parent for anyone, it seems. And, if your child has a disability you need to be getting it right as a parent 100% of the time. But the alternatives? An institution? I don't think so; I've seen the effects on institutionalised people. A foster family? If she's lucky - and she could get unlucky. Intensive home-based rehabilitaton and training for the family? Very expensive, and not necessarily effective.
So, in conclusion, no perfect answer, or even any really good answer. My heart goes out to the family and my prayers go where they should. I hope that her community is supportive, that her parents find peace, that Jani and her brother get the best childhood possible and a happy life.
06 Mar 2012, 4:46 am
