Why Johns Hopkins Was Right To Question Maya Kowalski's Mother
Oct 16, 2023, 05:00 PM
Can a documentary truly capture the multifaceted intricacies of a controversial case? The 'Take Care of Maya' trial is rapidly gaining public attention, especially after the Netflix documentary shed light on it. However, according to Tony Brueski, host of the podcast "Hidden Killers," the narrative portrayed may not be the complete picture.
Discussing the case with psychotherapist and author, Shavaun Scott, Brueski warns of the potential pitfalls of embracing a one-sided view. "You can walk away from that [documentary] with a very one-sided opinion on what is presented there," he observes. Scott further emphasizes, "There were things that were wrong on all sides of this case."
A significant portion of their discussion revolves around the allegation of Munchausen by proxy, also known as factitious disorder imposed on another. This condition often sees caregivers inducing or fabricating illnesses in those under their care. According to Scott, “90 percent of the time, it is a mother who is inducing this symptom. Pattern in the child.” Intriguingly, the majority of these caregivers, like Beata - Maya's mother, come from medical backgrounds.
Diving deeper into the complexities, Scott lays out the usual pattern of behavior seen in such cases: A parent, overtly loving and devoted, aggressively demanding specific, often unconventional treatments. A history dotted with various doctor visits and repeated hospitalizations. In Beata's case, these checkboxes were seemingly ticked.
The diagnosis of Maya's condition, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), added another layer of mystery. Typically associated with significant limb injuries, its occurrence without such an event was puzzling. Furthermore, the diagnosing doctor, an anesthesiologist specialized in CRPS, was not board-certified. His lack of hospital affiliations and his seemingly maverick approach raised eyebrows in the medical community.
Scott adds, “She had seen over 30 physicians. She'd had other hospitalizations and at least in one of the other hospitalizations. One of the physicians treating her had said, we need to look at Munchausen by proxy here.”
While the suspicion from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital might have been rooted in these discrepancies, the subsequent actions seem to be where the controversy truly deepens.
Another contentious issue raised was the 'ketamine coma' treatment pursued by Maya's mother. Not only was this treatment uncommon, but according to Scott, "Evidence has been presented that there was a 50-50 chance that she would not be normal and she might die." The rarity of CRPS, coupled with this unconventional treatment, which is not even offered in the U.S., made the situation even murkier. The Kowalskis’ determination to find a cure led them to Mexico, and their journey was met with skepticism due to the considerable risks involved.
Scott empathizes, trying to understand the parental perspective. "Mothers do get very upset when they see their kids struggling. They may want to think out of the box." However, the unconventional routes taken by Beata, including the hyperbaric treatments and the controversial trip to Mexico, were deemed “weird” by many.
In the end, this conversation between Brueski and Scott beckons listeners to view the 'Take Care of Maya' trial with a discerning eye, probing beyond just the documentary's narrative.
To conclude, one might ponder: Can any single narrative truly capture the multifaceted intricacies of real-life events, or do we always need to dig deeper to find the obscured truths lurking beneath the surface?
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Discussing the case with psychotherapist and author, Shavaun Scott, Brueski warns of the potential pitfalls of embracing a one-sided view. "You can walk away from that [documentary] with a very one-sided opinion on what is presented there," he observes. Scott further emphasizes, "There were things that were wrong on all sides of this case."
A significant portion of their discussion revolves around the allegation of Munchausen by proxy, also known as factitious disorder imposed on another. This condition often sees caregivers inducing or fabricating illnesses in those under their care. According to Scott, “90 percent of the time, it is a mother who is inducing this symptom. Pattern in the child.” Intriguingly, the majority of these caregivers, like Beata - Maya's mother, come from medical backgrounds.
Diving deeper into the complexities, Scott lays out the usual pattern of behavior seen in such cases: A parent, overtly loving and devoted, aggressively demanding specific, often unconventional treatments. A history dotted with various doctor visits and repeated hospitalizations. In Beata's case, these checkboxes were seemingly ticked.
The diagnosis of Maya's condition, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), added another layer of mystery. Typically associated with significant limb injuries, its occurrence without such an event was puzzling. Furthermore, the diagnosing doctor, an anesthesiologist specialized in CRPS, was not board-certified. His lack of hospital affiliations and his seemingly maverick approach raised eyebrows in the medical community.
Scott adds, “She had seen over 30 physicians. She'd had other hospitalizations and at least in one of the other hospitalizations. One of the physicians treating her had said, we need to look at Munchausen by proxy here.”
While the suspicion from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital might have been rooted in these discrepancies, the subsequent actions seem to be where the controversy truly deepens.
Another contentious issue raised was the 'ketamine coma' treatment pursued by Maya's mother. Not only was this treatment uncommon, but according to Scott, "Evidence has been presented that there was a 50-50 chance that she would not be normal and she might die." The rarity of CRPS, coupled with this unconventional treatment, which is not even offered in the U.S., made the situation even murkier. The Kowalskis’ determination to find a cure led them to Mexico, and their journey was met with skepticism due to the considerable risks involved.
Scott empathizes, trying to understand the parental perspective. "Mothers do get very upset when they see their kids struggling. They may want to think out of the box." However, the unconventional routes taken by Beata, including the hyperbaric treatments and the controversial trip to Mexico, were deemed “weird” by many.
In the end, this conversation between Brueski and Scott beckons listeners to view the 'Take Care of Maya' trial with a discerning eye, probing beyond just the documentary's narrative.
To conclude, one might ponder: Can any single narrative truly capture the multifaceted intricacies of real-life events, or do we always need to dig deeper to find the obscured truths lurking beneath the surface?
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com