An obese and over-medicated 11-year-old boy now has to live with his father, since his mother was not able to regulate his weight and medication.
Pretoria High Court Judge Cynthia Pretorius said that although the child said he wanted to remain with his mother, it was clear that he was better off with his father.
He had gained 18kg in 20 months.
He now weighs 72kg while he should weigh 50kg. He is thus 22kg overweight at the age of 11, the judge said.
The child - by agreement - lived with the mother after his parents divorced.
At the time, it was already noted in a report by the family advocate that the mother took the child for medical examinations, even when it was not necessary.
“She would go from one doctor to another to verify a doctor’s diagnosis,” the report said.
In 2008 the father asked the court for custody, stating that his former wife subjected the child to constant medical examinations.
The child was prescribed various forms of medication in excess, which the father felt placed his health - medically and mentally - at risk.
The mother did not deny this, but said it was necessary.
A medial professor was appointed by agreement between the parents to assess the child’s health and quantity of medication.
The main concern of the father at the time was the over-medication of his son and his obesity.
Meanwhile, the court decided the child himself should have a say and participate in these proceedings.
He is of above-average intelligence and at an age where he can give input to his fate.
An advocate was appointed to represent the child after hearing his views on the matter.
The child was living with his mother in 2008 when the medical expert examined him for the first time.
He was nine at the time and weighed 55kg. The doctor noted that he looked obese and that he was at the time 17kg overweight.
An educational psychologist, who investigated the child’s situation, found that the mother was “over-mothering” her “sick” son.
This was aimed against the father and his new wife, who were worried about the medical expenses and that the child was not as sick as the mother tried to portray he was.
The experts recommended the child was better off with his father.
The advocate appointed to represent the child, said although he said he wanted to stay with his mother, his demeanour showed that he did not want to hurt his mother, and in fact wanted to live with his father.
Judge Pretorius said that while a child’s preference should be taken into consideration by the court, it was not the deciding factor.
It was established that when one doctor stopped giving the child asthma medication, he was taken to a second doctor who agreed to prescribe him an asthma pump.
The advocate for the child said the boy was unable to describe an asthma attack to her.
The father said he could play three rugby matches without needing his asthma pump.
A paediatric pulmonologist described the child’s lungs as excellent.
Several doctors were of the opinion that the child “is taking cough medicine like water”. They concluded that he was being over-medicated.
The child’s advocate said the mother, following the advocate’s hour-and-a-half consultation with the boy, said she (the advocate) must have heard how many times the child had coughed during that time. But the advocate said the boy did not cough even once.
Judge Pretorius said the mother had ample time to correct her behaviour regarding the boy’s weight and medication.
“It is alarming for such a young boy to gain almost one kilogram a month and the strain to his body is already manifesting in him complaining about painful ankles when playing rugby,” she said. - Pretoria News