Ohio Returns Obese Boy to His Mom

Remember the boy in Ohio who was taken away from his home by the state government last October?

At the time, the boy was eight years old and weighed over 200 pounds. Citing "imminent danger" to the boy's health, case workers removed him from his home and placed him at his uncle's residence. The boy is now down to 166 pounds and has been returned to the custody of his mother, who has said she will use free medical services to address her son's health. The mother then decided to move with the boy to Georgia. Her right to move out of the state was called into question, but a juvenile court judge decided she had the right to move.

Can you blame her for wanting to leave Ohio after such an ordeal?

One year ago, Dr. David Ludwig and Lindsey Murtagh argued in the Journal of the American Medical Association that the removal of severely obese children from their family homes could be legally justifiable if there was "chronic failure to address medical problems" by the parents. This is a rare case that has put this thesis to a test. Obviously, the health of very obese children is a serious consideration, but so are the rights of the families.

Red flags should be raised since progressive statists have shown a willingness, even an eagerness, to break into the family structure. You can see this impulse in the JAMA commentary mentioned above and in more subtle examples like this New York Times editorial suggesting that family dinners are overrated in improving youngsters' well-being. And with Obamacare upheld (for now), even adults will have their waistlines subject to official government scrutiny. It may soon be that Georgia nor any other state can offer sanctuary from government intrusion into our personal and family health matters.