Four-year-old Rebecca Riley died in 2006 after prolonged exposure to various medication caused her lungs to fill with fluid. The medical examiner’s office determined Rebecca died from "intoxication due to the combined effects" of the drugs Clonidine, valproic acid (Depakote), Dextromethorphan, and Chlorpheniramine and that her heart and lungs were damaged due to prolonged abuse of these prescription drugs. Investigation into the cause of her death revealed she was taking 750 milligrams a day of Depakote, 200 milligrams a day of Seroquel, and .35 milligrams a day of Clonidine.
Since the age of two Rebecca had been prescribed psychiatric medication after being labeled with bipolar disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by psychiatrist Kayoko Kifuji of the Tufts-New England Medical Center.
On February 9, 2010, Carolyn Riley was found guilty of second degree murder in the death of her daughter and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 15 years.
In a separate murder trial, Rebecca’s father, Michael Riley, was convicted of first degree murder and received the automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Rebecca’s death lead to a wrongful death suit against her psychiatrist, Dr. Kayoko Kifuji. Boston attorney Benjamin Novotny brought the case against Dr. Kifuji on behalf of her siblings. Kifuji treated Rebecca and her two sibling, labeling all three of the Riley children with bipolar disorder and ADHD.
In January of 2011, the Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers for Rebecca Riley’s estate announced that a $2.5 million Boston medical malpractice settlement was reached with psychiatrist Dr. Kayoko Kifuji. The $2.5 million malpractice settlement is the maximum allowed under Kifuji’s insurance policy.
Attorney Novotny said the settlement will be distributed to Rebecca’s two siblings, now 15 and 10. Andrew Meyer, who works with Novotny, said the settlement did not contain any admission of wrongdoing on the part of Kifuji, but he said the decision to settle for $2.5 million suggests culpability. He said the hospital self-insures many of its doctors, including Kifuji.
Kifuji, agreed to testify in the murder trials of Rebecca's parents only after being granted immunity from prosecution. According to her testimony Kifuji had been fooled by the parents into believing their children had serious psychiatric illnesses, in part so the parents could collect federal disability checks for the youngsters’ alleged behavioral and mental disorders. She claimed she had no idea that the parents were over medicating their children.
Recently, key members of Congress have demanded an investigation into the possibility federal disability programs designed to serve poor, disabled, children create incentives for families to put children on harmful psychiatric medications. The sky-rocketing increase in the number of children receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, or SSI, for behavioral and mental health issues prompted the move to demand an investigation.
"A three-part Boston Globe series last month, called “The Other Welfare,’’ showed how the program, created in 1972 for children with severe physical disabilities, now serves largely those diagnosed with behavioral, learning, and mental disorders. Of the 1.2 million low-income children who receive SSI benefits, 53 percent, or 640,000, qualify because of mental disabilities, up from 8 percent in 1990. By significant margins, delayed speech and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, were the top reasons children received benefits, including Medicaid coverage and $700 a month in cash." Click here to read full article.
Among the diverse membership of ICSPP are many Mental Health professionals involved with non-medication approaches for individuals exhibiting symptoms commonly labeled with, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (AD/HD), Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Mania, Psychosis, Depression, Anxiety, and other types of mental health/mental illness/chemical imbalance issues listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition. Better known as the DSM-IV.
ICSPP past conference videos are available for sale, including Dr. Fred Baughman's 2007 presentation - Who Killed Rebecca Riley? Click here to purchase.
Kifuji, agreed to testify in the murder trials of Rebecca's parents only after being granted immunity from prosecution. According to her testimony Kifuji had been fooled by the parents into believing their children had serious psychiatric illnesses, in part so the parents could collect federal disability checks for the youngsters’ alleged behavioral and mental disorders. She claimed she had no idea that the parents were over medicating their children.
Recently, key members of Congress have demanded an investigation into the possibility federal disability programs designed to serve poor, disabled, children create incentives for families to put children on harmful psychiatric medications. The sky-rocketing increase in the number of children receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, or SSI, for behavioral and mental health issues prompted the move to demand an investigation.
"A three-part Boston Globe series last month, called “The Other Welfare,’’ showed how the program, created in 1972 for children with severe physical disabilities, now serves largely those diagnosed with behavioral, learning, and mental disorders. Of the 1.2 million low-income children who receive SSI benefits, 53 percent, or 640,000, qualify because of mental disabilities, up from 8 percent in 1990. By significant margins, delayed speech and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, were the top reasons children received benefits, including Medicaid coverage and $700 a month in cash." Click here to read full article.
Among the diverse membership of ICSPP are many Mental Health professionals involved with non-medication approaches for individuals exhibiting symptoms commonly labeled with, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (AD/HD), Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Mania, Psychosis, Depression, Anxiety, and other types of mental health/mental illness/chemical imbalance issues listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition. Better known as the DSM-IV.
ICSPP past conference videos are available for sale, including Dr. Fred Baughman's 2007 presentation - Who Killed Rebecca Riley? Click here to purchase.
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