Dr. Sousa’s account of a 10 year old child’s 15lb. weight loss… to The Mass. Board of Medicine

Dr. Sousa, of Pembroke, MA, discovers the 15 pound weight loss in a ten year old child (18% of the child’s body weight), and fails to report it to child and family services.  Dr. Sousa also discovers fainting spells at the school and the church, due to lack of food intake.  The mother, in the enclosed letter to the Board of Medicine, reported to Doctor Sousa that there had been no unusual events or illnesses to account for the child’s weight loss.  This is contrary to the boy’s primary care physician’s account, Dr. John Stanley, that the boy had either been suffering from influenza or had “rocks in his pockets,” to account for the child’s substantial weight loss.  The child had originally been brought into the clinic w/ a reported soar throat – by his mother; but the boy volunteered to the doctor that his stomach hurt and that he had fainted in his role as altar boy at the church, and at school the previous year (as he had not been fed on both occasions).  The child would go onto faint as third time, again at school, the following year.

Both doctors, arguably, failed in their role as mandated court reporters, although the Mass. Board of Medicine cleared both Doctors of the charge.

Dr. Sousa Letter to MA Board of Med – Redacted

(Double-click to read the letter)