History Headscratchers / MySistersKeeper

*** This is most likely the crux of it. As big of a mess as the whole situation is, it doesn't really rise to the level of legal neglect. In addition to having their basic needs met, it's not like their parents hate Jesse and Anna or pretend they don't exist, they just have trouble prioritizing their needs because Kate's situation commands so much attention (which, by the way, is sadly actually pretty common in real life in families with a sick child; it's not so much a matter of the parents being ''evil'' so much as ''overwhelmed''). Also, just in a practical sense, it's not like emotional neglect is something that the foster care system is always great with either; if, for instance, Anna and/or Jesse were to end up in a group home or similar, they could find themselves just as emotionally neglected there as they were at home.

*** This is most likely the crux of it. As big of a mess as the whole situation is, it doesn't really rise to the level of legal neglect. In addition to having their basic needs met, it's not like their parents hate Jesse and Anna or pretend they don't exist, they just have trouble prioritizing their needs because Kate's situation commands so much attention (which, by the way, is sadly actually pretty common in real life in families with a sick child; it's not so much a matter of the parents being ''evil'' so much as ''overwhelmed'').

** Or it's because, despite the way Sarah treats them, their needs are met, and the "neglect" in this case is of the emotional kind, which doesn't get [=CPS=] intervention, at least, not in the US

** You're thinking of doctor, who are legally not allowed to operate on family members and friends. In the case of lawyers, it's ill advised but legal.

** Saying it is medically realistic isn't fair. The nurse would obviously say that this would be the right ending because she would always be on the side of the one who is sick, not considering anyone's else feelings. Also the nurse is breaking the whole idea of "do no harm" by suggesting such a idea.

** Perhaps they exploited a legal loophole, or it was an "open secret" at first -- everyone knew why Anna was ''really'' born, but everyone was careful not to write it down in case it was used as proof. By the time of the court case, though, there's less justification. I suppose since there's a case already in motion that would prevent her being used as an organ factory, the legal system might have decided on one case at a time -- perhaps Child Protection would have stepped in if Anna lost the case? This is one bit that I think the book did far better than the film; the doctor is put on the stand and grilled by Campbell, who demands to know why the hospital allowed dangerous, painful and invasive procedures on a patient when her best interests were not served by the procedures. It makes it clear the the hospital had to bear ''some'' responsibility for suggesting that course of action in the first place... Of course, [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse nothing ever comes of it]], as far as we know.

** Saying it is medically realistic isn't fair. The nurse would obviously say that this would be the right ending because she would always be on the side of the one who is sick, not considering anyone's else feelings.

*** Without getting into the can of mutated fire ants, it's not illegal for a doctor to suggest the idea (actually, the USA doesn't have any laws about them), so the way I took it was that they really meant that the Dr's suggestion violated the hospital code of conduct/ethics or a rule about giving referrals (something about liabilities).

** How the hell did the parents in either the book or the movie even get to keep custody of their kids? One ends up a semi-psychotic pyromaniac out of neglect, and the other they treated like an organ bank? Especially the mother, they're just awful, AWFUL people.
*** SocialServicesDoesNotExist and/or PoliceAreUseless

** How the hell did the parents in either the book or the movie even get to keep custody of their kids? One ends up a semi-psychotic pyromaniac out of neglect, and the other they treated like an organ bank? Especially the mother, they're just awful, AWFUL people.

** Perhaps they exploited a legal loophole, or it was an "open secret" at first -- everyone knew why Anna was ''really'' born, but everyone was careful not to write it down in case it was used as proof. By the time of the court case, though, there's less justification. I suppose since there's a case already in motion that would prevent her being used as an organ factory, the legal system might have decided on one case at a time -- perhaps Child Protection would have stepped in if Anna lost the case? This is one bit that I think the book did far better than the film; the doctor is put on the stand and grilled by Campbell, who demands to know why the hospital allowed dangerous, painful and invasive procedures on a patient when her best interests were not served by the procedures. It makes it clear the the hospital had to bear ''some'' responsibility for suggesting that course of action inb the first place... Of course, [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse nothing ever comes of it]], as far as we know.