Protesters have recently showed up to Munson Medical Center holding signs reading “Free Hannah G.” Savannah Garcia, known as Hannah G, is an autistic person that has been a patient at the Munson Medical Center for over a month. There is currently an ongoing legal battle in the local probate court between the center and Hannah G’s mother over guardianship. Professionals at the center are concerned that Hannah G would suffer if her mother is involved in her care and have successfully entered an emergency petition that removed Samantha Garcia as guardian and named a replacement temporary guardian. Doctors are concerned that Savannah might be experiencing Munchausen by proxy, a type of abuse that involves a caregiver adding to a person’s illness to gain attention.
See Matt Troutman, Guardianship battle spills to street, Traverse City Record Eagle, September 27, 2015.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
