A Plea for the Well Bring of Elian Gonzalez From
His Personal Pediatrician. Exclusive document
ignored by the U.S. Attorney General.
On April 21, 2000 the personal pediatrician of
Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban child whose custody has
been made a matter of international debate first
and
criminal abuse later, wrote a letter to the U.S.
Attorney General, Ms. Janet Reno. The said letter
was faxed to Ms. Reno and we publish it here with
the permission of Dr. Acevedo and the Cuban
Pediatric Society in Exile. Dr Armando Acevedo is
a licensed physician in the State of Florida and
practices pediatrics from his office located at
3201 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida 33135
April 21, 2000
The Honorable Janet Reno
Attorney GeneralU.S. Department of Justice
10th Street at Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Attorney General Reno:
I am writing this letter in regards to my patient
Elian Gonzalez. As his pediatrician, I have
respected the physician-patient relationship we
share. For this reason, I have not come forward
to discuss the child's physical and emotional
state with anyone but his family. At this time,
however, I feel it is my responsibility to speak
on behalf of Elian's well being.
As the pediatrician caring for the child, I must,
with the family's consent, comment on my
experience with him. Through my interactions with
Elian, I have found him to be with a family that
is both loving and supportive. Contrary to other
statements of colleagues who have not treated the
child, I have not at any time found his
environment to be abusive or otherwise negative
to his well being. Despite the tragic loss of his
mother, he (Elian Gonzalez) has been surrounded
by a nursing and loving family in Miami,
primarily his cousin Marisleysis and his uncle
Lázaro González.
In my professional opinion, it would be
detrimental to take Elian away from the
physically and emotionally stable environment
where he has been for the past four and a half
months. I feel it would not only be harmful but
also inhumane to separate Elian from the family
here in Miami. He has grown close to them, and
such a separation would cause another tragic
loss.
I ask that you give due consideration to my plea
for Elian Gonzalez's well being.
Sincerely,
Armando Acevedo, M.D.
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