A doctor in Florida lost custody of her 4-year-old daughter as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Theresa Greene has been working on the frontlines in the emergency room, but that isn’t what’s stressing her out.
"I feel like the family court system now is stressing me almost more than the virus, I mean this is a very stressful time for healthcare professionals," she told 6 South Florida.
While Theresa tested negative for COVID-19, that didn’t stop her ex-husband and her child’s father, Eric Greene, from filing for an emergency order demanding sole custody until the pandemic is over.
The publication notes that the child reportedly splits time between both houses.
Court documents reveal that Eric believes the “mother’s significantly heightened exposure to COVID-19,” puts their daughter at risk.
Theresa’s worst nightmare came true when Judge Bernard Shapiro ruled in Eric’s favor and granted the request.
“In order to protect the best interests of the minor child, including but not limited to the minor child’s safety and welfare, this Court temporarily suspends the Former Wife’s timesharing until further Order of Court. The suspension is solely related to the outbreak of COVID-19,” the judge wrote in the court order.
Greene believes the decision is discriminatory against divorced parents.
“How can you tell me because I’m divorced that I can’t come home — obviously I have to shower — but that I can’t come home and hug my daughter,” she said.
She added that the judge did not look at it from a medical perspective.
Not only did she cite evidence strongly suggests coronavirus does not affect young children, but she noted that the American Medical Association supports going home to your children as long as you take proper precautions.
“I was just shocked that the judge would take this stance without talking to medical experts and knowing the facts and take it so lightly, take my child from me and not think of the effect on her, her mental and psychological well-being,” she said.
“I know I’m not alone, first responders, nurses, so many people in this position who, because they’re divorced, their children are suffering and they're being told they can’t see them, and it’s just not fair,” Theresa admitted.
She added that she will not stop fighting and has filed an appeal.
She also plans to continue working as healthcare professionals find themselves overwhelmed with an influx of patients and without proper protective gear.
“You know I took an oath and I really believe in that, that’s why I went into medicine, to help people,” she explained.
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