Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Here in California we have had 33 deaths in the last 5 years because a parent (either Mother or Father) forgot that the child was in a rear car seat ,
see story DON'T THINK IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO YOU / TRAGIC DEATH: Father who left 11-month-old in car had just changed his morning routine
in this case the Father was supposed to drop the child at day care but forgot and continued to work , and the child probably died through being in a parked car where temperatures reached the 100s F .
How the hell do you punish the parent for this ...........?
your thoughts .............:confused:

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Lock him up in a car in the sweltering sunshine for a day and see how he copes.:mad:

As a parent, the one thing that you can never, ever forget is that you're a parent.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

totally agree with you Gayle , but work pressures on young professionals are so high these days , we put these young folks under so much pressure to perform or make way for someone else , the guy worked for Seimans which is noted for it's payment by results system,
Sad all round :(

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

The bloke will live what what happened for the rest of his life. Isn't that punishment enough?

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Chop his tail off, to ensure he doesn't do it again.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

How awful.The father will have guilt over this on his conscience forever and the knowledge that he was to blame will be horrendous.I don't know how a family copes with something like this.How do you come to terms with yourself or your husband doing this to a child?The child will have gone through dreadful suffering before death in those circumstances.I'm surprised nobody passing through the car park noticed or heard the child screaming.Tragic.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I don't give a frig about pressure or the guilt he'll carry for the rest of his life - if you have responsibility for a child that should be the one and only thing on your mind at all times - he should be punished.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

You tell 'em girl.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I agree.
No punishment the state dishes out will surpass the most extreme guilt this man will have to live with for the rest of his life.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Ditto to the above!

Brian

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I'm in agreement with Gayle, how on earth can you forget that you have got your child with you?

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

So he'll have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life, tough!

Just because you are the parent of a child doesn't mean you shouldn't face criminal proceedings for gross neglect, if that's what you've done.

That child's life should be worth more than guilty feelings.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Not everyone has the same sense of guilt or responsibility - if he's capable of forgetting that his child is with him (the most precious thing in the world), I'm pretty sure he'll eventually be able to forget or forgive himself for this. He'll probably end up blaming someone else - his wife for not reminding him, his boss for putting too much pressure on him etc.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Hear hear.

Are you saying that you are thinking about your children and just your children all the time?Do you never think about anything else at all?You can't be serious???:confused:
This man has made a terrible error with tragic consequences that he and his family will never forgive or forget.I bet he would give anything to turn the clock back.Can you really not sympathise just a little bit?

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Nope, not on this one. I've no sympathy whatsoever.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Gosh I'm awfully sorry about my baby dying.

I forgot it couldn't swim.

I feel so guilty now, I must remember the next time.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Some will sympathise,others won't.Still can't believe you never think about anything else apart from your children.How do you go on at work?
By the way,I'm not suggesting he shouldn't face any sort of punishment for this,he has, after all is taken into consideration,killed somebody and if I were him I would expect to be punished.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

If your mind wanders whilst driving your car and you kill someone you can be charged with manslaughter. Just because this man was the parent of the child, doesn't mean he shouldn't face the legal implications of his actions.

You could get sent to jail for doing what he did to a dog.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Many good points on both sides. I tend to agree with Gayle's position on the people who leave their kids in the car while they are at the track or having many drinks in the bar. That too me is absolutely unconscionable. They should be hung from the tallest yardarm.

However, unknowingly leaving a child in the car, then going off to work is stupid, tragic, horrendous, and devastating to this family. I imagine this bloke will be sat in shock as his sentence is carried out. I don't believe "the State" cannot do anything to this man as he certainly broke the law. The ultimate sentence will be interesting.

Brian

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

[quote=LancYorkYankee;454261]Many good points on both sides. I tend to agree with Gayle's position on the people who leave their kids in the car while they are at the track or having many drinks in the bar. That too me is absolutely unconscionable. They should be hung from the tallest yardarm.

Quite agree with you there.That's premeditated neglect.A different scenario.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

am 100% with gayles stance on this one. and as for shakers comment, didn,t realise you knew the guy.:rolleyes:

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

As I said above,I don't think he should escape punishment altogether.Maybe I added that bit after you'd started replying to the original post:)

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

A few of my presumptions about certain people on here are being confirmed through this thread. I'm not even going to join in.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Don't know if we're thinking along similar lines but I feel that some people are coming across very holier than thou and would have us believe that they're like Mary Poppins...practically perfect in every way:rolleyes:

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I don't think you're far wrong, but as I said, I'm not joining in. ;)

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I agree with that......every single day this young man will look at other parents of small babies and remember that he too used to have a small child like theirs.....He may have friends who have children who are of a similar age......he will see these children reaching the landmarks in their lives....first day at pre-school, first day at primary school etc......and he will know that he too should have been experiencing the joys that such episodes bring.
He may lose the love of his partner, it must be hard not to blame someone when you lose a child in such circumstances.
Right up until his dying day this man will pay, and in terms that we can only imagine.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Well put Margaret:)

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

This man will build his own prison, whatever the state does about punishment.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

You may forget to pick up the dry-cleaning on the way home from work. You do not forget you have the welfare and care of a helpless child under your supervision. If you do then you really shouldn't have children.

This man may be racked with guilt for the rest of his life, then again he may not, we don't know.

Everyday there are countless acts of cruelty carried out against children in the world, the perpetrators of which probably feel no guilt at all.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I really don't think you know how children will affect your life when you first have them.......and it is an experience that every single parent will approach differently....and yes it is a very humbling thing to be responsible for the young life in your hands....and you are right Garinda....the man may have no conscience about it.......but then again he may....and if he has believe me it will make him pay.
I think it is also necessary to draw a line between those who abuse children for pleasure/beause they are immature/because they know no better....and parents make a mistake. Most parents...if they are honest, have done things which in retrospect have been hazardous, and have been fortunate enough for their child to suffer no ill because of it....and we learn through our mistakes....to be better parents.
All I am saying is that we should not judge on what is reported. 'Judge not lest ye be judged'

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Whilst I agree that this bloke will suffer from what he did for the rest of his life, I just can't understand how he forgot the poor little chap. For five minutes or so, yes, but for most of his working day? No way.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

you can judge how you like tin monkey, i happen to know someone that killed a child Drunk Driving, 8 months later he was Drunk Driving again, how the hell can you people "judge" he will carry the guilt for the rest of his natural, its people like you who are being holier than thou.:rolleyes:

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

there has been lots of chatter about this on local talk radio , a caller raised an interesting point , prior to the introduction of air-bags this sort of thing was unknown ,the babies car seat was in the front of the vehicle, now the babies are in rear which if the child falls asleep makes forgeting them easier , not an excuse but a small contributing factor .
Its illegal here in California to leave children under the age of 6 in cars alone , even just to pop into the convienience store for one minute or into the gas station to pay at the desk instead of using a credit card on the gas pump
Nationwide, in the U S at least 16 small children have died so far this year after being left in cars, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Last year, 29 children died, and 42 died in 2005, the study said. There have been 337 deaths in all since 1998.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot my child had cancer, my mind was on other things, so I didn't give them their drugs.

Rubbish.

You forget to pick up milk, not that a small child's life is dependent on your care.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

One death is one to many, for GOD'S sake what world are we living in when somebody[be it father or mother] forgets that their child is in the car with them and should have been dropped off at nursery or childcare before he or she went to work? Forget targets, money problems or anything else we are talking about A BABY'S LIFE HERE not a parcel A HUMAN BEINGING! What is the world coming to when money comes before a child's life? IT IS BEYOND ME and no I am not perfect, ARE YOU ?

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Sadly yes, but I do sympathise with those of you who aren't.:D

It's a cross I bear with stoicism.:)

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

That's the point that got me.

If you forget to lock the door, 15 minutes later you are asking yourself and checking.

How you can forget for a full day that you didn't drop your child off is beyond me.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Omg! the poor baby, i agree with some of you, how can u forget that u have a child wih you!, its just impossible, no matter how much pressure you're under u can forget that, that poor baby must off felt so alone on the last hours of his life,he must off suffered so much, it makes me feel sick that they are people out there so stupid to do something like that.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

We only have his word that it was a mistake.
If he goes unpunished it could open the flood gates for parents that want to get rid of their children.

I am not saying that this is true in this case but you never know.
He has caused the death of a child, either by accident or by planning, that deserves punishment. The severity should be relative to the courts finding as to the circumstances.

Yes I am sure that most parents would carry the guilt for ever but, some would not.

Its always easy to make assumptions and judgements looking in from the outside after reading what some journalist wants you to read.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

You are comparing chalk and cheese. Drink driving and this case are completely different.

In addition, your post is completely senseless.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

the end result is the same, also was refering to how some DO NOT carry the burden of guilt for ever,but your to clever to see that.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

This is exactly why I wasn't going to join in with this topic :rolleyes:

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Maybe the drink driver didn't kill his OWN child....that is the difference.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Not at World:UK questions he ain't.:D

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Ho ho ho! Everyone knows there's a hard set and an easy set of questions. ;)

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

The only excuse I can make for him is that men in nature have a role in life and that is to go out and fend for the family, and child sitting (!) comes second nature; a woman to bear children and care for them ...NAH .... this guy must just have a screw loose in the first place!! That's the only excuse/explanation I can come up with.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

how could some one for get a bout a child? it makes you think what is the world comeing to,let,s hope the won,t have any more,iam so sorry to read a bout this.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

What a strange lot we humans are here is a man that made a terrible mistake, one he will regret for the rest of his life, he probably doesn't want sympathy because he will be punishing himself for it.

Yet people such as yourself Katex will display a yellow ribbon displaying that your thoughts are with a poor child that went missing after her parents, (notice the caring nurturing mother is to blame as well!) deliberately left her and her twin siblings alone.

It strikes me as strange that a man that made a mistake (be it as horrible as it is) gets no sympathy and yet two neglectful parents get an audience with the Pope! If I was to offer sympathy anywhere that guy would be a long way further up the queue than those two.:confused:

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I still display the yellow ribbon for the child Less in the hope that she will be found safe and well soon, not the parents, albeit however neglectful we all think the couple were, they didn't just forget about their children (please don't think this is any excuse for them .. it's not!) and understand perfectly what you are saying, but their child is lost indirectly through their neglect, not directly.

Anyway, don't think people's opinions have changed with regard to Madeline's parents, some have lots of sympathy for them as well as the opposite, as feelings for this father, shown on this thread.

I am not saying either that I don't have any sympathy for this father; just an explanation of why he may have forgotten which to me and others, beggars belief. Just feel his mind cannot be in any sort of gear.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Can any of you empathise with this? I can.The child is asleep in the car seat,making no noise,in the back of the car.Especially if your routine has changed,say you don't normally take the child to nursery,your wife does,but this morning you are doing it.You're thinking about work and other things. I can see how you could momentarily forget that the child was still there.Personally I would have noticed the child when I locked the car door at work but sadly this chap didn't.This could happen to anyone and as Margaret Pilkington said,we should not judge.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I agree that if the child had gone asleep it would be easy for the guy to forget he was there.....also if this man was unused to taking his child to child care facility then that would be another factor.
It is difficult to make assumptions on whether this man feels any remorse......I can empathise with him, and also forsee the difficulties he will have coming to terms with his anguish. Have we all become so cynical that we believe everyone wants to be rid of their children? or doesn't care as much as you and me? Caring needs to be transformed into actions to be visible, but none of us can ever know the feelings this man might have about his perceived neglect.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

I fervently hope that none of us are ever in this terrible position.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Margaret readingthe report he was used to dropping the child off, it was just the time was changing as he was dropping his daughters off somewhere else first.

This is the point that got me, sometime during the day it would have hit him he forgot.

Re: Child dies because Father forgot......
 

Article from this mornings local paper , seems the degree of punishment differs on wether its the Mother or the Father

Sentences Vary When Kids Die in Hot Cars