Another kid killed for being autistic.

[conuly]

Lemme tell you, there's *no* bias at all in this article. None!

Well... maybe just a little.

Like in the very first paragraph:

Three-year-old Katherine McCarron had retreated into her own autistic world Saturday when her mother, Dr. Karen McCarron, decided she wanted to “end her pain and Katie’s pain,” according to a Tazewell County Court record obtained by the Journal Star on Wednesday.

Aside from the really sloppy sentence structure (Saturday, she suddenly became autistic and left this world (in two senses)? Uh....), this sentence is designed to predispose you to feel sympathy for the mother (the poor dear) and pity for the child who's better off in the afterlife than in "her own autistic world".

Graff said Karen McCarron acted alone and her husband was out of town.

“It was Mother’s Day weekend, which makes it even more tragic,” Graff said.

Oh, yes. That poor mother, with nothing to do on Mother's day but kill her child. It's just a tragedy that she had to do this on Mother's day instead of, say, the following week.

Karen McCarron is certified in anatomic and clinical pathology as well as dermatopathology, the study of the causes and nature of skin diseases.

Not at all relevant. Unless it's supposed to make us think that she's well-educated and deserves a break (after all, she only has one surviving daughter, and it's so horrible to lose your child).

Comments

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

wow....that's horrible.

I mean, I understand it can be hard to have an autistic kid. I've worked with a couple that were a real handful. And I've seen some parents who dealt in really weird ways. But to kill your kid? that's just not excusable at all.

[conuly]

Betcha a dollar she either doesn't get sentenced at all, or ends up with a laughably short sentence.

Warning - I talk from knowledge. All this has happened before.

[maelorin]

Perhaps a sensible Austism organisation (if any such exist any more) ought to apply to join the case to present medically-based evidence to counter the prejudices put forward by the very self-interested accused.

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be totally surprised if she does get let off with a slap on the wrist, if that. I mean, like I've said...I've worked with some kids who were absolutely heartbreakingly difficult to teach, difficult to watch. I can absolutely understand the feeling of hopelessness. I can put myself in the position to understand *wanting* to hurt a child...but I could never ever actually imagine *doing* it. I can see how a jury, a judge, a DA, etc. can see that same hopelessness as an excuse.

[maelorin]

There are other options - particularly for educated, well-paid professionals ...

Frankly, someone needs ot act on this - not just for other autistic children, but because the state of mind of the mother at the time she killed her daughter is what's really important.

Did she plan to kill her, and waited until there was no one about to stop her? Had she been harbouring thoughts for some itme? Or was it all really on the spur of the moment?

The difference being murder, murder, or manslughter.

But still unlawful homicide.

[maelorin]

Dr. Karen McCarron, decided she wanted to “end her pain

They got that right. She wanted to be rid of the hassle. Selfishness is the new American Dream.

Her daughter wasn't in pain.

The relevance of her "qualifications" is that she's not qualified to know anyhtign about autism ...

[conuly]

Well, living with a mother like that, I'm not sure I'm qualified to judge that girl's potential pain. I know *I* wouldn't be happy living with somebody who harboured murderous thoughts towards me.

[threeoranges.livejournal.com]

Dr. Karen McCarron, decided she wanted to “end her pain

They got that right. She wanted to be rid of the hassle. Selfishness is the new American Dream.

Well said! Though I'd call it the new Western Dream; conuly alerted me to a British mother who'd offed her autistic teenage son and whom everyone was bending over backwards to make excuses for.

Whatever happened to "he ain't heavy, he's my brother (son/daughter/other family member)?" Nowadays those lyrics would have to be altered to "I disposed of my lame brother in an entirely humane manner, and the entire media establishment reassured me I was completely justified and could have done nothing other than what I did. His presence interfered in my day-to-day life, they told me, and as such it was perfectly natural that I should have no feeling for someone who was at best an inconvenience."

Exaggerated and far-fetched? Well, maybe :) but I would still like the law to come out and say exactly when it is socially acceptable to kill a dependent, instead of faffing about the sanctity of all human life. Let's have it on record.

[maelorin]

but I would still like the law to come out and say exactly when it is socially acceptable to kill a dependent, instead of faffing about the sanctity of all human life. Let's have it on record.

Um, as far as I recall, it's still illegal to kill someone - I can't think of a legal justification that could fit.

Except 'normals' emotional blathery will intervene. Autism having been built up as some kind of huge impost, and all. And some kind of terrible infliction upon the poor, autistic kids.

[threeoranges.livejournal.com]

I rather mixed my metaphors there - I mentioned the Law, then added the phrase "socially acceptable". I suppose it's the latter I was really considering - it may not be legal to kill a child with autism yet, but society doesn't seem to mind all that much.

[conuly]

Well, in the US, people are legally killed all the time - it's called the death penalty.

And in Oregon, physician-assisted suicide is legal....

And in Texas (as well as other states) they have "futile care" laws which allow hospitals to stop caring for patients against their wishes, or those of their families.

[maelorin]

Those would be examples of legally 'justified' or 'excused' homicides.

I simply cannot see how some mom offing her nuisance of an autistic daughter could fit into a pre-existing legal justification or excuse ...

She'll get off on the "pity" factor. Which sets up a really nice precedent for other parents fed up with thier children ... *alarmed*

[conuly]

If it's any consolation, the precedent is already there. At least in regards to disabled children.

[maelorin]

*sigh*

Indeed.

[conuly]

*frowns a second*

Are you refering to the case this year? Because he was 36.

I couldn't find my post on it on Google, but I found the post I took it from, which is just as good.

It's a small point, of course.

Oops! Sorry, for some reason I thought he was late teens.

[threeoranges.livejournal.com]

It is a valid point, in that he wasn't technically a minor when she killed him. (Even so...!)

[ancarett]

Hmmm, I read some parts of the article as rightfully condemning the mother -- the tragedy of it happening on Mother's Day wasn't that it was "poor mom" but it was a profound failure of mothering. And the bit about her qualifications certainly did suggest she should know better.

Gah -- how could anyone think about doing something like this to their child, just because the child was autistic? As you said, though, sadly typical.

[deceptica]

I read the bits about Mother's Day and about her qualifications in the same way as you.

[(Anonymous)]

The reason Dr McCarron's qualifications are mentioned is most likely so members of the Peoria area can identify her, without bringing unfair scrutiny on her group or the hospitals for which she worked.

Dr McCarron happened to be a colleague of my father. I met her a few times; she seemed very kind. I couldn't believe it when he told me.

[maelorin]

This has the hallmarks of other cases where a "post-natally depressed mother" killed their child.

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

wow....that's horrible.

I mean, I understand it can be hard to have an autistic kid. I've worked with a couple that were a real handful. And I've seen some parents who dealt in really weird ways. But to kill your kid? that's just not excusable at all.

[conuly]

Betcha a dollar she either doesn't get sentenced at all, or ends up with a laughably short sentence.

Warning - I talk from knowledge. All this has happened before.

[maelorin]

Perhaps a sensible Austism organisation (if any such exist any more) ought to apply to join the case to present medically-based evidence to counter the prejudices put forward by the very self-interested accused.

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be totally surprised if she does get let off with a slap on the wrist, if that. I mean, like I've said...I've worked with some kids who were absolutely heartbreakingly difficult to teach, difficult to watch. I can absolutely understand the feeling of hopelessness. I can put myself in the position to understand *wanting* to hurt a child...but I could never ever actually imagine *doing* it. I can see how a jury, a judge, a DA, etc. can see that same hopelessness as an excuse.

[maelorin]

There are other options - particularly for educated, well-paid professionals ...

Frankly, someone needs ot act on this - not just for other autistic children, but because the state of mind of the mother at the time she killed her daughter is what's really important.

Did she plan to kill her, and waited until there was no one about to stop her? Had she been harbouring thoughts for some itme? Or was it all really on the spur of the moment?

The difference being murder, murder, or manslughter.

But still unlawful homicide.

[maelorin]

Dr. Karen McCarron, decided she wanted to “end her pain

They got that right. She wanted to be rid of the hassle. Selfishness is the new American Dream.

Her daughter wasn't in pain.

The relevance of her "qualifications" is that she's not qualified to know anyhtign about autism ...

[conuly]

Well, living with a mother like that, I'm not sure I'm qualified to judge that girl's potential pain. I know *I* wouldn't be happy living with somebody who harboured murderous thoughts towards me.

[threeoranges.livejournal.com]

Dr. Karen McCarron, decided she wanted to “end her pain

They got that right. She wanted to be rid of the hassle. Selfishness is the new American Dream.

Well said! Though I'd call it the new Western Dream; conuly alerted me to a British mother who'd offed her autistic teenage son and whom everyone was bending over backwards to make excuses for.

Whatever happened to "he ain't heavy, he's my brother (son/daughter/other family member)?" Nowadays those lyrics would have to be altered to "I disposed of my lame brother in an entirely humane manner, and the entire media establishment reassured me I was completely justified and could have done nothing other than what I did. His presence interfered in my day-to-day life, they told me, and as such it was perfectly natural that I should have no feeling for someone who was at best an inconvenience."

Exaggerated and far-fetched? Well, maybe :) but I would still like the law to come out and say exactly when it is socially acceptable to kill a dependent, instead of faffing about the sanctity of all human life. Let's have it on record.

[maelorin]

but I would still like the law to come out and say exactly when it is socially acceptable to kill a dependent, instead of faffing about the sanctity of all human life. Let's have it on record.

Um, as far as I recall, it's still illegal to kill someone - I can't think of a legal justification that could fit.

Except 'normals' emotional blathery will intervene. Autism having been built up as some kind of huge impost, and all. And some kind of terrible infliction upon the poor, autistic kids.

[threeoranges.livejournal.com]

I rather mixed my metaphors there - I mentioned the Law, then added the phrase "socially acceptable". I suppose it's the latter I was really considering - it may not be legal to kill a child with autism yet, but society doesn't seem to mind all that much.

[conuly]

Well, in the US, people are legally killed all the time - it's called the death penalty.

And in Oregon, physician-assisted suicide is legal....

And in Texas (as well as other states) they have "futile care" laws which allow hospitals to stop caring for patients against their wishes, or those of their families.

[maelorin]

Those would be examples of legally 'justified' or 'excused' homicides.

I simply cannot see how some mom offing her nuisance of an autistic daughter could fit into a pre-existing legal justification or excuse ...

She'll get off on the "pity" factor. Which sets up a really nice precedent for other parents fed up with thier children ... *alarmed*

[conuly]

If it's any consolation, the precedent is already there. At least in regards to disabled children.

[maelorin]

*sigh*

Indeed.

[conuly]

*frowns a second*

Are you refering to the case this year? Because he was 36.

I couldn't find my post on it on Google, but I found the post I took it from, which is just as good.

It's a small point, of course.

Oops! Sorry, for some reason I thought he was late teens.

[threeoranges.livejournal.com]

It is a valid point, in that he wasn't technically a minor when she killed him. (Even so...!)

[ancarett]

Hmmm, I read some parts of the article as rightfully condemning the mother -- the tragedy of it happening on Mother's Day wasn't that it was "poor mom" but it was a profound failure of mothering. And the bit about her qualifications certainly did suggest she should know better.

Gah -- how could anyone think about doing something like this to their child, just because the child was autistic? As you said, though, sadly typical.

[deceptica]

I read the bits about Mother's Day and about her qualifications in the same way as you.

[(Anonymous)]

The reason Dr McCarron's qualifications are mentioned is most likely so members of the Peoria area can identify her, without bringing unfair scrutiny on her group or the hospitals for which she worked.

Dr McCarron happened to be a colleague of my father. I met her a few times; she seemed very kind. I couldn't believe it when he told me.

[maelorin]

This has the hallmarks of other cases where a "post-natally depressed mother" killed their child.