Your Black World reports.
Maryanne Godboldo is having problems with the state of Michigan. The mother entered into an armed standoff with Detroit Police after fighting the state’s efforts to put her child on psychiatric medication. Authorities had come to the house to take her daughter into custody, and Godboldo refused. She was arrested when the fighting was over.
Now, Godboldo is in a battle with the state over their right to force her child to take Risperdal, an anti-psychotic drug. The mother doesn’t trust the doctors, who she blames for previous problems with her child. She says that her daughter has had medical issues from childhood immunizations and that she responds better to holistic treatments.
The state, however, is claiming that the mother is hurting her daughter by not giving her access to appropriate care.
“Our mandate is to go into court and prove there is medical neglect,” said Human Services Director Maura Corrigan. “Is there harm to the child? That’s what we are trying to assess,” Corrigan told the Associated Press.
As a result of her decision to fight with the authorities, Godboldo spent five days in jail and faces charges that include the discharge of a firearm, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and resisting officers. Officers claim that a gun was found in the woman’s home, along with 43 rounds of live ammunition and spent shell cases.
“I was in my home. Why should I come out? They were invading my home,” Godboldo said.
State authorities say they worry about the well-being of the child, and believe that Godboldo should be confronted. They also argue that she failed to follow procedure.
“I would always be concerned with a parent who has a gun and is using it when a child is present because accidents happen,” said Oakland County Probate Court Judge Linda Hallmark, who isn’t working on the case. “If a parent feels the child is going to be removed and there isn’t a basis for it, there are legal avenues that the parent needs to follow.”
This is not the first time the state has clashed with a parent over proper treatment. A couple in Wisconsin was convicted of reckless homicide when their daughter died from diabetes, which was treated with prayer instead of medicine. When Godboldo described the kind of holistic treatment she was giving her daughter, she simply replied that she was giving her “God’s medication.” The police came after the mother after she refused to attend a meeting with Child Protective Services.
