Girl not ‘emaciated’
The May 25 Rocky Mountain News article on the 7-year-old in Greeley, “Arrests made in death of emaciated 7-year-old,” concerned a tragic incident that without doubt should be thoroughly investigated.
But based on the reports the Rocky has written, the victim has gone from underweight (May 24 and earlier stories) to emaciated. A 7-year-old weighing 35 pounds is not emaciated. Having worked in the medical field for 30 years, part of that time in pediatrics, and having a healthy 7-year-old myself (tipping the scales at 43 pounds), I have a hard time understanding the need to go that route with the story.
The girl died, but definitely not from malnutrition, that I can assure you. Please refrain from these unnecessary tactics and using terms such as emaciated to sell papers. It insults my intelligence and lessens your credibility.
Jim Lott, Denver
President, NurseCorps Inc.
The child may very well be emaciated. We can hardly use your child as a standard, since, as you know, there are many factors involved in the relative sizes and weights of children. Or it could be that emaciated was a poor word choice. How are we, as readers, to judge? Your letter reminds me a bit of the Terry Schiavo diagnosis rendered by a congressman, who by the way, also has a medical background.
The child may very well be emaciated. We can hardly use your child as a standard, since, as you know, there are many factors involved in the relative sizes and weights of children. Or it could be that emaciated was a poor word choice. How are we, as readers, to judge? Your letter reminds me a bit of the Terry Schiavo diagnosis rendered by a congressman, who by the way, also has a medical background.
According to reports, the police and coroner could see her protruding hip bones and rib cage as well as the detailed anatomy of her wrists, knees and ankles. I think that description opens the door for the adjective "emaciated" to be used in the article.
As a mother of children who are are in the 5th percentile for weight, I know the information can be misleading. However, despite their thin bodies, they do not have bones that can be seen under the skin. That's the difference.
Well Jim: It appears your intelligence has been insulted; however, reader comment suggests there was little intelligence to insult. Sorry, ol' boy: back to the drawing board.
Posted by Richard Grimes Risen Ape: Member of the deicide that slays gods: r22037@yahoo.com on May 26, 2007 11:46 AMIf Jim were an objective and hosnest medical professional, he would tell you that the diagnosis by a doctor (which he is NOT) would be malnutrition. When skeletal anatomy can be seen under the skin, it means that the patient's muscle tissue has begun to waste away, a clear sign of malnutrition or some illness or disorder that is causing muscle wasting. Another thing Jim should have revealed was the difference between his 7-year-old's Body Mass Index (BMI) or Body Surface Area and the malnourished 7-year-old's. A simple difference in height would explain the difference in his seven year-old's body weight with the other's. BMI or Body Surface Area are both reliable ways to measure an individual's deficiency or excess of body weight or size.
Posted by Beavis on May 26, 2007 03:07 PMIt appears Mr. Lott's interpretation was based on the information he read in the RMN. We as readers enjoy facts and judge according to such. Grimes sounds like a small child that no one wants to play with. This may possibly be the story of his life. His insight was neither informative or funny. Nice job Mr. Grimes for such an objective and informative piece of crap.
Posted by Mr. Simon on February 18, 2008 10:17 AMIt appears Mr. Lott's interpretation was based on the information he read in the RMN. We as readers enjoy facts and judge according to such. Grimes sounds like a small child that no one wants to play with. This may possibly be the story of his life. His insight was neither informative or funny. Nice job Mr. Grimes for such an objective and informative piece.
Posted by Mr. Simon on February 18, 2008 10:18 AM