Psychiatrist Charged with Malpractice in Death of Child

A Massachusetts tribunal has given the green light to charge Dr. Kayoko Kifuji with psychiatric malpractice in the death of 4 year old Rebecca Riley, after she prescribed a deadly dose of drugs for the child.

In a surprising twist, the girl’s parents are also being charged in her death, for administering too many doses of the medication Clonidine and other prescription drugs used for the treatment of bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder.  The Rileys claim that they administered the drugs under the orders of Dr. Kifuji and are not at fault.

After the parents were charged, Kifuji voluntarily surrendered her license to practice and her attorney maintains that it will be difficult to decide if the physician is at fault in Rebecca’s death, given the fact that her parents are also being held liable.  Prosecutors, however, feel that they have enough evidence to prove psychiatric malpractice, also claiming that she failed to properly monitor the child’s condition after she was diagnosed.

Attorney Brian Clerkin is suing Dr. Kifuji on behalf of Rebecca’s surviving brother and sister.  The Rileys will likely not benefit from any sort of monetary reward if the case against Dr. Kifuji is successful, even if they are found not guilty in the death of their daughter.

Source:  Wicked Local Weymouth