Medical Neglect: When a Child's Health Needs Go Unmet

Children depend on adults to take them to the doctor, fill their prescriptions and say yes to the treatment they need. When a caregiver repeatedly fails to do that, and a child's health suffers or is put at serious risk, it can be a form of neglect called medical neglect. It is one of the less visible kinds of neglect, because the harm often happens quietly, behind closed doors and over time.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. In the U.S., the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-422-4453.

This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you are worried about a child's health or safety, talk with a pediatrician, a school nurse or a child-welfare professional.

What medical neglect can look like

Medical neglect is not about missing one checkup or choosing one doctor over another. It is a pattern in which a child's serious health needs are ignored or refused. Some examples:

• Not seeking care for an obvious injury or serious illness
• Refusing to allow treatment or surgery that doctors say a child urgently needs
• Repeatedly skipping follow-up visits for a known condition
• Not filling or giving necessary medication, such as medicine for seizures, asthma or diabetes
• Ignoring untreated dental pain, vision problems or infections
• Leaving a sick or injured child alone without care

Neglect is not the same as poverty

Many families struggle to pay for care, find transportation or take time off work. A parent who wants to get their child treated but cannot afford it needs help, not blame. Hospitals, clinics, social workers and public programs such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) exist to close those gaps.

Medical neglect is different. It is when a caregiver who could get help for a child does not, or actively blocks it, and the child is harmed or put in danger as a result.

Jonathan's story

Jonathan Anthony Burkett lived this. In his memoir, Neglected But Undefeated (2012), he writes that when he was hurt as a boy and could not lift his head, his mother refused to take him to the hospital, even when his father said to. As a teenager he had repeated seizures, and doctors told his mother he needed surgery for a tumor on the left side of his brain. She refused to give consent. Hospitals would not release him without a guardian's signature. Later, Marise Christophe, who worked at the hospital and treated him like a son, coordinated a surgeon who would not charge him. He had brain surgery at Memorial Regional Hospital on January 30, 2006, two days before his nineteenth birthday.

His story shows how much damage one adult's refusal can do, and how much good one caring adult can do. A hospital note from that time described a "difficult social situation and home life," a reminder that medical teams often see the signs too.

Signs a child's health needs are being ignored

Teachers, coaches, neighbors and relatives are often the first to notice. Watch for a child who seems to be in pain for days without treatment, who comes to school sick again and again, who has an untreated injury, or who mentions needing medicine they do not have. A child who says "my parent won't take me" deserves to be taken seriously.

Also notice how the child talks about their body. Children who are neglected may downplay pain because they have learned that no one will respond. Others may be told to lie about how they got hurt or why they have not seen a doctor. Patience and a calm, private conversation can help a child feel safe enough to tell the truth.

How adults can help

Offer practical help first. If a family is overwhelmed, a ride to an appointment, help with paperwork or a connection to a free clinic may solve the problem.

Involve professionals. School nurses, counselors and social workers know how to assess a child's needs and connect families with care.

Report serious concerns. If a child's health is in danger and a caregiver will not act, contact the Childhelp hotline for guidance or your state's child protective services. In Florida, you can also report concerns to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. In an emergency, call 911.

Stay present. Visiting, checking in and simply caring can carry a child through a long, frightening season. Jonathan has thanked the nurses and doctors who supported him "time and time again."

She cared for me as if I were her son, even when I was discharged from the hospital.
— Jonathan Anthony Burkett, Neglected But Undefeated

Be the adult who acts

A child cannot drive to the doctor or sign a consent form. They need adults willing to speak up. If you notice a child whose health needs are going unmet, take one step today: ask a question, offer help, or make the call. To read Jonathan's full story of survival, faith and the people who stood by him, find Neglected But Undefeated on the Books page.

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