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Rebecca Riley is a 4-year-old from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who was found dead at the foot of her parents bed, covered by only a blanket, in 2007. Rebecca had been “diagnosed” with ADHD and bipolar disorder since the age of 2 and treated with Seroquel (quetiapine), Depakote (valproic acid), and clonidine, none of which are FDA approved for use in children. Autopsy showed more than ten times the therapeutic level of clonidine (whatever that is) in her blood stream, and forensic experts ruled her death due to heart and lung damage caused by prescription medications.
Clonidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, meaning it acts on the noradrenergic system to shut it down. Seroquel is a powerful antipsychotic, and Depakote is an anti-epilepsy drug that has been used for a variety of mental disorders. Those in combination with cold medications to treat her drug-related pneumonia probably did her in. Although doctors can “legally” use medications for non-FDA approved uses, that doesn’t condone poor medical practice.
This tragic case turned out to be related to the willingness of her parents to use psychotropics to drug all three of their children. Rebecca had to be helped to walk up the stairs and sit in her chair at her pre-school, and was frequently noted to be drugged. The parents were getting SSI for the two older children and were working on getting it for little Rebecca as well. Their disabilities seem to be related to being over medicated. And it was clear the patients were using the medications to keep their kids sedated and easy to manage.
The FDA has perversly approved Abilify and Risperdal for use of bipolar disorder in children, even though bipolar disorder in children has never been recognized as an official disorder in DSM. Diagnosing two year olds with disorders of concentration and behavior is perverse, to say the least. The unfortunate trend in psychiatry to expand psychotropic drug use doesn’t seem to be coming to an end. I will be on the show “In Session” on TruTV talking about this case and the trial of Rebecca’s father, Michael Riley, tomorrow at 9 am EST. Her mother Carolyn Riley has already been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her daughter.
Michael and Rebecca Riley
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This is a prime example of negligence. I hope that they both get exactly what they deserve, and I hope that whatever prison they are sent to someone hurts them in the manner that they hurt that beautiful little girl. There is a nice fiery spot in hell for people like this!!
Sure, the parents were irresponsible and blameworthy, but where was the psychiatrist, the enabler of these folks?
I would add a lower circle of hell for the shrink who let this happen.
Parents today have been dooped into thinking their children need these drugs. I don’t blame them. I blame the doctor overseeing this little girls care. Was the needed blood work being done??? Were the parents even made aware the blood work needed to be done. I am a nurse and I have taken care of several patients put on meds and they were not educated on the fact blood work was needed.
No disrespect to all of you and you, Michelle, the nurse, but I’m sorry–it is not NORMAL for a 4 y/o to be on so many drugs, etc. How can a parent NOT know that? If you do any research/reading, etc. you would know that it should not be this way. These parents made a serious of mistakes, and it seems to me took “the easy way out.” Being a parent is difficult but the answer is not just medicating your child–just creates other problems-obviously!
the parents were very misinformed and made mistakes HOWEVER a a doctor wrote the prescriptions and a pharmacist filled them. and both of those people are highly educated while the parents may not have been. We have babies having babies today, people unfortunately still think of doctors as Gods and do not question them.
The parents were sketchy people who made their living scamming social security out of ssi and Ssdi.
I blame the parents more than the doctor. But the doctor was still culpable, at least partially
@Vanessa and Cindy What you’re missing here is that we are raised in a culture that makes physicians authority figures. We ask for the help of experts because we cannot be experts in everything. Do a Google search to find out what happens to parents who refuse to medicate their children when a doctor has decided they should. They are often court-ordered to do as the doctor recommends or risk losing their children. This actually quite common.
There’s something very wrong about blaming any parent for following the instructions of doctors. What has made you both so lacking in compassion? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that these young people themselves are disabled. The idea that a “living” can be made on SSI or SSDI is laughable.
There’s a reason you’re so angry with these people and it has nothing to do with what happened. You may want to take some time to look inside and figure it out. In the meantime, I sincerely hope you soften your hearts before karma does it for you.
Well, for one thing, the parents did NOT give the Clonidine as prescribed. There should have been 75 pills left when she died but there were only 6. They drugged that poor baby. They didn’t even take her to a doctor for the pneumonia. SSI of $623/mo per child = $1869/mo plus free Medicaid health insurance with copays of 1%. A min wage job wouldn’t pay that much especially after taxes & health insurance are deducted. So yes, some people DO live off their children’s SSI checks. I’ve seen it all & I’m sad to tell you it happens. Not to mention the family dysfunction including father molesting mother’s oldest daughter and mother choosing him over her own child.
I cannot believe that this doctor in not charged in this case.The doctor saw Rebecca one time. She had a gold mine with this family. Michael Riley turned his three children and wife into zombi!s. He mastermined the scam on the United States Government. He shopped for a doctor who would participate in his scam. If anyone would investigate.they would find Rebecca!s doctor made tens of thousands of dollors.on this family.I cry every night thinking of how this baby suffered at the hands of this monster (her father).There needs to be a law Rebecca!s Law. To protect our children from this kind of doctor and the United States Government needs to investigate families who recieve several checks. I hope that there is some type of advocates group to protect innocent children and never allowing this doctor to aid in killing another beautiful child in the name of greed. I Pray For Rebecca Riley. Sincerely yours Taylor Martin County Florida
I agree with Taylor about the psychiatrist. I don’t think these meds should be prescribed for children this young. No monitoring was done, no blood tests to check meds levels etc. Who knows how this cocktail affects brain development?
I agree that the dr. never should have prescribed the medicine in the first place but ultimately- SHAME ON THE PARENTS. As a parent of an 8 year old boy, I’ll tell you, he rarely cleans his room, his attention span is short but as an educated parent who loves their child, I know that his behaviors are that of an average 8 year old boy. He doesn’t need medication and even if a doctor told me too- I would seek a second opinion. These parents knew what they were doing and they didn’t care who they hurt to do it.
Why would someone expect a parent to know more than a physician when it comes to drugs? That’s exactly what some of you are saying here when you question why the parents didn’t question the doctor about the drugs. The answer is simple — they didn’t feel qualified to question the doctor. The person suggesting that the father “doctor shopped” has no evidence of this. It’s a fabrication. There is nothing suggesting this happened. Look at the father, for Pete’s sake! He doesn’t look bright enough to be able to find his hands.
All you need to do is look at the photo of these people to tell that both are not very bright. Being intelligent is not a prerequisite for parenting.
The point is, when we’re unsure if our child is ill, we go to a physician. This is as it should be. If you bring your car to a repair shop do you check over the repair after to be sure it’s done properly? In most cases you don’t because you rely on the expert the mechanic, because you are not an expert. Would your neighbors criticize you if there was a problem with the car even after bringing it to the mechanic? Would they say you should have checked to see if the repair was properly done? Of course not. Yet, parents are being held to a higher standard than a physician.
Bottom line — the physician held the prescription pad and wrote prescriptions strong enough to heavily drug a grown adult for a child. While the parents can be labeled neglectful, the doctor is the killer. These drugs were prescribed off-label [never tested on children] for a tiny child. Yes, psychiatrists everywhere are doing this. It doesn’t make the use of these drugs right. As long as society keeps blaming parents for these tragedies, the real criminals, the physicians and the pharmaceutical companies, will keep doing this and children will keep dying. Shame on you Dr. Bremner, for focusing more on these parents than the physician.
@Halaluani no shame on me, your points are well taken
This is a more complicated case then it appears. I think what many people are missing is the parents or parent. There is something that is called munchausen syndrome by proxy. I believe the conduct of the parents make this obvious. They go out of their way to seek this doctor. I believe they do this because it would keep them out of the public view. And now I hear the father is not only not interested but abusive. An abusive father and a mother who showing all the indications of munchausen syndrome by proxy. Then we have the totaly incompetent doctor at best. By her own admission she says when the father was in the home the symptoms ceased all togethr. And we have children falling asleep in front of her and other places. It is so obvious that something is terribly wrong. I just don’t understand it at all. Am I the only one who has noticed that mother is desplaying the traits of munchausen syndrome by proxy? She is getting all the attention especialy since she has been found not guilty. She must be getting plenty of sympathy and attention. I am a handicapped person who has many physical problems that require pain medication, but I don’t take anywhere near the amount of meds that these children are taking. The doctor is a manipulative. She refusing to answer a straight question with a straight answer. She is just assuming people will give up because she is the doctor. This case is so sad. Someone needs to wake up and smell the coffee. I have not heard anything since the twinkee defense.
Samantha
I had a friend whose chiid was diagnosed with being Hyper and were going to be putting the child on medication. I witnissed an episode of her trying to get her son to clean the room. She kept making threat after threat. If you don’t clean your room I am going to throw all your stuff in the trash and other remarks. My own sister had a son who was just out and out spoiled. He refused to go to school and she let him stay home. At resturant he refussed to order any food. Claimed nothing was on the menu that he liked. So the others ordered and when the food came he wanted to eat from everyone’s plates. It seems the way the children are not being disciplined. We live in a age where childen are allowed to run wild and where dogs in their own homes are put into cages. What the heck is going on?
Samantha
Are you serious!? a mother is more of a expert of her own child, than a doctor. a mother sees her child 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week. it is what you say 2 these drs. although, i do not excuse this doctor! 2 year olds have alot of energy, they throw tantrums, and, yes, they cry when they don’t get their way! does that make them adhd or bipolar? lol. excuse me 4 laughing. i have 3 children, all adults now. when they were little, very close @ age. woo. alot of energy! as mothers, it’s up to us 2 take care of those needs. bring them 2 the park, a walk, play with them. run off that energy! don’t dope them up! i was a single young mother. the last thing on my mind was doping them up. i took 3 buses, just to bring them swimming 4 the day. i cannot believe a professional would agree with “these parents”. i didn’t have it easy! the last thing on my mind was doping all of my children! people can look one way, and, have all kinds of plots going on in their heads. were the other children prescribed any meds?
@lynn all of the children were on meds and the mother frequently gave one child’s meds to the other children.
Michael and Carolyn Riley deserve to rot in a jail cell…I can’t believe parents now a days…seriously if you can’t handle kids KEEP YOUR LEGS SHUT and YOUR DICK IN YOUR PANTS!! Thanks! it makes me sick how people can take the life of something soo innocent…get real a child diagnosed with ADHD and Bi Polar at 2yrs? seriously? I am soo outraged I know it happens everyday but watching this case I realize how messed up people really are..
How do you tell if a child has bipolar disorder or even ADHD at only 2 years old. OK, someone isn’t going to like this, but here goes…I’m not sure about bipolar, but ADD/
ADHD is MADE UP!! Here’s why I believe this-children are very active and if you are too lazy to discipline them, then they are going to get out of control and run amuk! Lazy parents and teachers(YES, I SAID TEACHERS!),are the main reason that doctors started prescribing the DANGEROUS meds to young children to turn them into zombies!! No one wants to chase a normal child any more. My daughter was diagnosed in K-garten as ADHD by the LAZY teacher, and the doctor and Psychologist agreed that she wasn’t ADHD! The doc said that my daughter was strong willed and didn’t fear authority, and that was her only problem. He also went on to say that the teacher was just lazy. The school didn’t like this diagnosis(or lack thereof) and named a doctor they wanted me to take her to that WOULD say she was ADHD! HELL NO!! These drugs kill, and lazy parents, teachers and doctors are the murderers!!
I think both the parents and the psychiatrist are culpable. I wouldn’t trust any doctor who would diagnose toddlers with bipolar disorder. If the reports I read are correct the only person who didn’t seem to have a clue as to what was going on was the psychiatrist – the teachers and neighbors noticed the child was being overmedicated yet strangely the doctor missed it?
After watching this case more all of them deserve jail…the parents and the Doctor..why isn’t the doctor on trial for murder? I worked with kids at a preschool setting for years and I can’t believe parents, teachers and doctors now adays…Parent and teacher are having problems with child the school orders the child to a doctor to be put on medicine so that the parents and teachers a can handle a child…what is wrong with people…kids are kids and yes some are hard to handle at times but Medication? seriously? that is ridiculous…NO child needs medication for this stuff..tough love is the way to deal with it…I was a hyper outspoken lil girl and my parents never medicated me..they were stern with me and showed me love that is what kids need now adays is LOVE and TIME…a child can never get to much of your love or time! remember that
If we had an enlightened society that funded mental health clinics, perhaps those parents psychiatric conditions (obvious to me) would have been treated prior to ever having children, much less abusing them in this way.
A physician is placed in a very difficult situation — help the child or not. Sometimes people with psychiatric conditions can put on a very good face to the physician.
This physician moved here from Japan, specifically to practice this kind of medicine and to help children. She is well-regarded by many parents who could find help for their children nowhere else.
Common sense much enter the equation.
And, by the way, seems I read that more children are killed from these over-the-county cold medications than prescription medications. More accurately, they are killed by parents with low IQ, substance use problems, and any variety of untreated psychiatric disorders.
Yes, there are some babies and toddlers whose brains cannot shut off and go to sleep or stay asleep. This is a disorder just like any other organ disorder.
As for “tough love” dealing with a three-year-old who cannot sleep? Gesus.
It always amazes me how many Americans see the brain as some kind of ….what….homunculus? It’s an organ, people. The most complicated and vulnerable human organ.
Good grief….. please ignore the typos. It’s been 100+ for three days with no AC. My brain is busting out of my skull.
No, I don’t see Munchhausen. I see mentally ill parents who passed along their genes to their children — and put them further behind the genetic 8 ball by eating junk food, probably smoking, and who knows what else.
Sickness breeds more sickness. And it all snowballs until something really tragic happens. Then Americans go “huh? where did this come from?”
How can a four-year-old be diagnosed these so-called mental disorders. Her brain was still evolving. Even the prescribed amount of these poisons were detrimental to her health.
We are fast becoming a zombie-induced society enslaved to the all mighty prescription bottle. There are better way. Research natural ways to deal with these “mental disorder.”
More people die from intestinal illness than terrorism, Gina, so what is your point? The same companies make the over the counter poisons as well.
It is also apparent the Drug Companies and Doctors in this case are JUST as guilty, and more so than the parrents.
Drs daily tell parrents, up the dosage, it will be fine.