Is Dr Sally Smith Still Practicing? Where is Dr Sally Smith Now? What Happened to Maya Kowalski?
by V Gomala | Updated Jun 21, 2023
Dr Sally Smith John Hopkins Hospital
Dr. Sally Smith formerly served as the medical director for the Pinellas County Child Protective Services team in Florida. She faced significant scrutiny following investigations that unveiled the repercussions of her expedited approaches to diagnosing child abuse. These investigations uncovered numerous cases where charges were dismissed, parents were acquitted, or caregivers were deemed genuinely innocent due to her methods. She stays listed as part of the medical staff at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In her role as the head of the Pinellas County child protection team, Dr. Smith assumes the responsibility of assessing practically every child referred to All Children's Hospital with injuries that raise suspicion.
Is Dr Sally Smith Still Practicing?
Dr. Sally Smith, despite facing numerous allegations, remains listed as part of the medical staff at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is important to note that she is categorized as an "independent contractor" and is neither an employee nor an agent of the hospital. Although she is retired, there is still a possibility for her to occasionally engage in case work.
Previously, Dr. Smith held a prominent position as the medical director of the child-protection team in Pinellas County, where she was widely regarded as an authority on matters related to child abuse. However, the remarks made by Kowalski's lawyer in the book "Take Care of Maya" shed light on a concerning aspect of child removal rates in Pinellas County. According to the lawyer, children in this region are nearly two and a half times more likely to be separated from their families compared to the statewide average in Florida. This revelation paints a negative image of Dr. Smith and suggests that there may be further underlying issues beyond what has already been exposed.
Where is Dr Sally Smith Now?
Dr. Sally Smith has retired this summer, according to sources. It is said that the Kowalski family filed a lawsuit in October 2018 against several parties, including Dr. Smith, All Children's Hospital, the Department of Children and Families, Suncoast Center Inc (a privatized health system employing Dr. Smith), and Cathi Bedy, Maya's social worker.
A report states that Dr. Smith and Suncoast Center Inc reached a settlement in their lawsuit, with the amount agreed upon being $2.5 million. This information highlights the legal actions taken against Dr. Smith and sheds light on the financial resolution reached between her and her former employer, Suncoast Center Inc.
Take Care of Maya Wikipedia
A recently premiered documentary called "Take Care of Maya" has garnered attention since its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival and subsequent release on Netflix. Directed by Henry Roosevelt, the documentary sheds light on the flaws present in child protection laws in the United States. The film follows the journey of Maya Kowalski, a young girl who began experiencing symptoms of a rare disease at the age of 9.
Maya's symptoms included severe pain, impaired mobility, and the development of skin lesions. Despite seeking help from multiple doctors, visiting various hospitals, and undergoing numerous treatments, Maya's condition showed no signs of improvement. However, Maya's parents, Beata and Jack Kowalski, eventually found a doctor who provided them with a diagnosis and a treatment plan that brought relief to their daughter. It was determined that Maya was suffering from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a debilitating condition that required high doses of doctor-prescribed ketamine to manage her pain.
The documentary serves as a platform to raise awareness about the inadequacies within the child protection laws in the United States. By showcasing Maya's journey and the challenges her family faced in obtaining an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the film prompts viewers to reflect on the existing shortcomings in the system and the impact they have on families in similar situations.
What Happened to Maya Kowalski?
Maya Kowalski began experiencing various debilitating symptoms, including headaches, asthma attacks, painful lesions on her limbs, and severe foot cramping, when she was just nine years old. In 2016, at the age of ten, she was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida due to excruciating stomach pain, which caused her to scream and curl up in agony.
Eventually, at the age of 16, it was determined that Maya's symptoms were related to a rare neurological condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). However, before this diagnosis was made, the Kowalski family faced a tragic turn of events.
During Maya's hospitalization, doctors began to suspect that her mother, Beata Kowalski, might have Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in a child. Beata, who was a nurse, requested a high dose of ketamine for her daughter, as it had previously shown effectiveness in treating CRPS at a Mexican practice, according to a source.
Concerned by these circumstances, the hospital staff contacted child protective services, resulting in Maya being separated from her parents for three months while a comprehensive psychological evaluation of Beata was conducted. Eventually, Beata was cleared of any mental illness by the court.
Tragically, 87 days after being separated from her daughter, Beata died by suicide, leaving behind a note expressing her unbearable pain of being apart from Maya and being treated as a criminal. Her note also highlighted her anguish at witnessing her daughter's suffering and deteriorating condition.
Is Dr Sally Smith Still Practicing - FAQs
Dr. Sally Smith has retired during the summer.
Dr. Sally Smith, despite facing numerous allegations, remains listed as part of the medical staff at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
During Maya's hospitalization, doctors began to suspect that her mother, Beata Kowalski, might have Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in a child. Beata, who was a nurse, requested a high dose of ketamine for her daughter, as it had previously shown effectiveness in treating CRPS at a Mexican practice, according to a source.
"Take Care of Maya" is a recently premiered documentary.