Massachusetts Report on Haleigh Poutre Case.

Yesterday, the report of three-member Massachusetts Governor’s Special Panel for the Review of the Haleigh Poutre case presented their findings and recommendations. Among the recommendations for children in state custody are new levels of protection whenever there are physician decisions to withhold life sustaining treatment.

The report also notes that this case represents a systemic failure in the child welfare, health care and mental health systems to provide the safety net that children deserve – not just at the Department of Social Services (DSS), but at all levels, public and private.