Justina Pelletier's father speaks out after gag order lifted

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Justina Pelletier is at the center of a custody battle with DCF as she fights a rare illness, and now her father is in Boston pleading with lawmakers on Beacon Hill for help.

Lou Pelletier was finally able to speak out Thursday after a gag order that's been in place since November was dropped earlier this week at an attorneys-only hearing in Boston. A contempt of court order against him was also lifted during that hearing and it was determined that his daughter is going back under the care of Tufts Medical Center.

Tufts is where the 15-year-old was originally being treated for Mitochondrial disease before being transferred to Boston Children's Hospital. That's where they gave her a different diagnosis and urged child protection officials to take custody away from her family after filing a report of abuse or neglect.

That was 13 months ago. The Pelletier family says her condition has greatly deteriorated since then.

They're now working with Massachusetts legislators to get custody of their daughter from DCF. Sixteen lawmakers drafted a resolution last week in an attempt to make that happen. Among them are State Representatives James Lyons and Marc Lombardo. The representatives hosted Pelletier at the State House Thursday afternoon.

Lou Pelletier told FOX 25 that he believes the way DCF has treated his family over the past year has been beyond inexcusable, and they never even did their homework before taking his daughter away.

"Do you realize in 13 months, Boston Children's accusations and DCF, DCF of Massachusetts has never been to our house, never seen our doggies, our yard, our pool in the backyard, never talked to our neighbors, never did anything. They were judge, jury and executioner," he said.

He went on to say, "We just want the government out of our lives. We want this judge to admit he committed an error. We want DCF to be out of our lives. I don't care if it's Connecticut, Mass. or Texas, make them go away."

The Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services released a statement to FOX 25, which read in part:

"Our primary goal has always been the health and well-being of Justina. DCF has been working with the juvenile court and communicating with Connecticut child welfare officials to identify appropriate services for Justina and her family in Connecticut so that Justina can return to her home state."

The next court hearing regarding the teen's fate is on March 17. Her parents plan to see her Friday at a DCF facility in Dorchester.

Cox Media Group