Doctor Turns Baby William Over to CPS

VisionForum | 5/16/02 | Doug Phillips

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This month the unfolding story of baby William Goforth once again took some remarkable twists and turns as statism and religious bigotry were juxtaposed against the ever merciful faithfulness of the Lord in protecting the life of this miracle preemie. The supervising hospital physician who once recommended discontinuance of life support for baby Will Goforth on the grounds that the quality of his life would be minimal, this month declared that he was "acting in the best interest of the child," when he authorized hospital social workers to file a formal request for state intervention with Child Protective Services after parents Joshua and Noelle Goforth refused his demand to vaccinate the four-pound preemie.

Appealing to the physician to respect their parental obligation to make decisions for their own child, parents Josh and Noelle explained that though they did not necessarily object to vaccination at some time in the life of William, they did not believe that it was either wise or necessary to inject biologicals of unknown toxicity into the bloodstream of a struggling preemie currently fighting for his life.

After consulting with legal counsel, they further appealed to the supervising physician by explaining that Texas law, and even CPS guidelines, make it clear that their decision not to vaccinate was legal and within the realm of their Constitutionally-protected parental rights.

Indicating that his authority as a physician trumps their rights as a parent, the supervising doctor remained steadfast in his assault on the parents, and later responded by cursing at the Goforths' attorney when he called to mediate the situation.

Seeing that the Goforths would not cede their parental rights to his personal opinions, the physician gathered a group including two hospital social workers for a surprise meeting with father Josh Goforth, during which time it was made clear that unless the Goforths agreed to a series of demands, they would continue to work for the State to take custody of the child away from the parents. Among the issues raised as a pretext for State seizure of the child was the fact that the social workers did not believe that the Goforths were economically capable of caring for baby William after he leaves the hospital. This last comment was based purely on the fact that the Goforths have declined to receive State welfare.

When CPS did intervene and interview the Goforths, it was revealed that the actual charges brought against the family which served as the pretext for removing the child from the home included accusations that they were part of a "cult-like" religion, that they held to "patriarchal" values in which the husband speaks for the wife, and that they declined vaccination.

MUCH GOOD NEWS

Thanks be to God, we can report that the social worker assigned to the case communicated to the Goforths and their attorney that charges brought by the hospital staff did not constitute a valid basis for CPS intervention. Although the case remains open, and hospital social workers appear resolute in their commitment to oppose the family which could result in later interviews and possible intervention, the circumstances appear favorable for baby William and his parents.

Thanks can also be given for the fact that an appeal by the Goforths was honored to have the antagonistic hospital physician removed from any jurisdiction over Baby William. The new supervising physician appears not only to be highly competent, but favorable to working with the parents through these difficult times.

Perhaps the greatest news is the revelation that continued improvement on the part of Baby William means that an eye operation scheduled for this week may be deemed unnecessary. It has been indefinitely postponed as physicians continue to chart the progress of baby William.

TITANIC DINNER RAISES MORE THAN
$60,000 for BABY WILLIAM

Three hundred guests joined Beall and me, the Goforth family, and the staff of Vision Forum at the historic Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas for the most successful Titanic Dinner in the six-year history of the Christian Boys' & Men's Titanic Society. The evening featured the inspirational music of balladeer Charlie Zahm, the bagpipes of the Pipers Fisher, a film about the life of baby Goforth, contests for the children, and a message I delivered entitled "The Heroism of the Fathers is the Legacy of the Sons."

The dinner was celebrated on the ninetieth anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic, and a month after the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the Birkenhead, the two maritime events noted for men who lived out the doctrine of "women and children first."

This year's dinner was a benefit for the Baby William Fund. In God's mercy, more than $60,000 was raised at the dinner and through the generosity of many of you who have contributed through the mail and via our Web site. Thanks be to God, the Fund was able to award the money to the Goforths for the purpose of liquidating a $130,000 hospital bill which was negotiated down to $50,000 -- conditional on the Goforths' ability to raise the money in a timely fashion. Paying off this debt does not resolve all the problems of the mounting hospital bills for Baby William's care, but it is an important and strong first step.

VIEW IMAGES -- HELP BABY WILLIAM

To read more about the Titanic Dinner or to view images from the evening, or to learn about the Baby William Fund, click here.

PLEASE PRAY

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The supervising hospital physician who once recommended discontinuance of life support for baby Will Goforth on the grounds that the quality of his life would be minimal

The Nazi death camp physicians were more succinct: "Worthless lives". Those who don't meet the State's criteria are to be put down like animals. Clearly this doctor has started down that slippery path. It's a good thing that he's out of the picture.

pretext for removing the child from the home included accusations that they were part of a "cult-like" religion, that they held to "patriarchal" values in which the husband speaks for the wife

And what would have happened if the couple had been minority and bisexual, and she spoke for him? They would have been lauded for their brave stance, and that physician would be working at McDonalds now (if only).

It's all being turned upside down; right is wrong, wrong is not only right but required. We're setting up for a bad fall.

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