Another report from Wisconsin on this sad case Unfortunately, the proof of the allegations are tied up in claims of patient confidentiality. And sometimes, reports of the most outrageous crimes are not believed because they are so outrageous. Here we have a situation where patient confidentialtiy could be used to cover up a crime.
Clint and Lynn Engstrom told police they were acting under a doctor's supervision when they installed an alarm system on their daughter's bedroom door and confined her to her room.
The Engstroms allegedly locked their 13-year-old daughter in her room for 22 hours a day for nearly two years as punishment for misbehaving, but doctors say regardless of a child's behavior, that type of punishment is not appropriate.
"I can't image anyone would recommend this kind of treatment for any child," said Dr. Karin Suesser, a psychologist with Aurora Medical Group. "Either they misunderstood what was said or they were just flat out lying. But I can't think of any reason why anyone would say, 'Yeah, this is a good idea.'"
Clint Engstrom, 32, and Lynn Engstrom, 35, were charged last week in Winnebago County Circuit Court with causing mental harm to a child, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 12 years and six months in prison and a $25,000 fine.
In the criminal complaint, Lynn Engstrom told detectives the girl was allowed to leave her room for meals, to go to the bathroom and complete chores.
Lynn Engstrom told police there were times she and Clint Engstrom questioned what they were doing, but the psychiatrist treating the girl told them not to give in.
Clint Engstrom told detectives that he installed an alarm on the girl's bedroom door because they had problems with the girl sneaking out of her room to eat candy or watch TV. He said the alarm was a suggestion the psychiatrist made, the complaint states.
The psychiatrist named by the Engstroms issued a statement declining comment based on patient confidentiality.
"Our clinic has a history of working with the court system and local law enforcement," the statement said. "However, based on patient confidentiality, the release of information needs to be done in accordance with Wisconsin and federal rules and rules set up by the court."
Health professionals said the girl may be able to reverse some of the effects of her ordeal if she gets professional counseling.
"The most important thing for her is to be able to talk and have other people validate that this is not her fault and she didn't do anything wrong," Suesser said. "She's still young enough that she can catch up. It's not necessarily damage for life, but it can be. It depends on what happens from here on."
But even with help, she may still feel the effects throughout the rest of her life.
Baron Perlman, a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, said the girl is at an increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior, an eating disorder or depression.
"You don't know. People are very resilient and significant others might make a difference," Perlman said. "The situation is horrific by any perception or definition."
Despite public shock at the way the girl allegedly was treated, Perlman said incidents of this sort are more common that people think.
"Anyone working for a social services or child welfare department in the state will tell you this happens," Perlman said. "But this is the end of the scale. This is more dramatic."
For now, the focus needs to be on getting the girl who survived the ordeal the professional help she needs in order to overcome the abuse and regain some sense of normalcy.
"She's going to need professional intervention, significant others there for her in positive ways and luck," Perlman said.
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