TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
Anyone who has watched the Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya knows that the family has been through a lot. Maya Kowalski, who is now 17, recalled her childhood experiences in the documentary about dealing with a chronic health condition called complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS, which was challenging to diagnose.
The family had another chapter of this painful story close after the court awarded them $261 million for several claims and held the hospital liable.
In the attempt to find a diagnosis for Maya's relentless and painful symptoms, she and her family went through a medical ordeal when the girl was 10 years old, which only ended when her mom, Beata Kowalski, took extreme measures.
The documentary investigated Maya's hospital stay at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida from October 7, 2016, through January 13, 2017, where she was held due to suspected abuse.
While there, she was evaluated by a doctor who believed Maya's pain was the result of abuse at the hands of her mother.
Despite the family's attempts to get her out of the hospital, which were all denied, she remained under the care of the hospital, and her access to her parents was restricted; specifically, she wasn't able to see her mom.
On January 6, 2017, Beata Kowalski was able to see her daughter for the first time since she entered the hospital in a Dependency Court hearing, according to the New York Times. At that time, Maya's condition had worsened, and less than 48 hours after seeing her daughter for the first time, now in "worse shape," and a decision by the court that would not see her reunited with her daughter, Beata Kowalski took her own life.
Only then, on January 13, 2017, Maya was released from the hospital under the care of her dad.
The Kowalskis said the emotional distress Beata Kowalski was under and ultimately her death were the direct result of the actions of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
On November 9, following eight weeks of a jury trial and testimony, jurors in Florida's 12th Judicial Circuit in Sarasota County found Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital liable for a list of claims made against it by the Kowalski family.
The results of the jury trial found the hospital liable for a list of civil claims.
Those claims include false imprisonment of Maya, medical negligence, battery of Maya, fraudulent billing, intentionally inflicting emotional distress on Maya, wrongful death claim for the estate of Beata Kowalski, and inflicting emotional distress on Beata Kowalski.
The hospital was ordered to pay the Kowalski family $211 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages, totaling $261 million, per the Times.
‘For the first time, I feel like I got justice,’ Maya said following the jury decision.
Ethen Shapiro, one of the lawyers representing the hospital, told the Times that All Children’s followed state orders, including the Florida Dependency Court, which restricted visitations and decided on October 14, 2016, that Maya should be sheltered. The hospital plans to file an appeal.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
