Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Netflix, US News, Film and TV
Joe Harker
*Warning: article contains references to suicide*
The family featured in the recent Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya is suing a hospital in Florida for $220 million.
The documentary follows the Kowalski family and their daughter Maya, who suddenly began suffering from symptoms of a rare disorder in 2015.
.
Advert
Maya started suffering from asthma attacks and headaches, her feet began to cramp and curl, and lesions started to form on her arms and legs.
Several doctors were unable to diagnose her symptoms and one thought it might all be in her head, though her parents said they 'knew she wasn't faking'.
Eventually Dr Anthony Kirkpatrick diagnosed Maya with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a neurological condition that causes pain in a person's extremities.
Dr Kirkpatrick tried to treat Maya with ketamine but her symptoms persisted so he suggested she be put into a five day 'ketamine coma' in an attempt to essentially reset her nervous system.
The procedure was not legal in the US and the family had to travel to Mexico to do it, with Maya's condition improving as a result - though CRPS cannot be cured.
In October 2016, however, she relapsed and was rushed to hospital where her family asked for doctors to give their daughter ketamine, the treatment they had seen help relieve their daughter's pain.
However, concerned hospital staff alerted child protective services and an investigation accused Maya's mother Beata of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSP) where a parent or carer makes up symptoms or causes real ones so their child will appear to be ill.
Beata was later determined not to have this condition but Maya was placed into state custody and didn't see her family for three months.
After 87 days without seeing her daughter, Beata took her own life at the age of 43, saying she 'no longer can take the pain being away from Maya and being treated like a criminal'.
Five days after Beata took her life Maya was released into the custody of her father Jack, and the Kowalski family have since filed a lawsuit against the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Florida.
The family are being represented by AndersonGlenn LLP and are seeking $55 million in compensation along with $165 million in punitive damages.
UNILAD has contacted Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital for comment.
Take Care of Maya is available to stream now on Netflix.