'Starving mother' undergoes psychiatric evaluation
After delaying examination for several days, mother suspected of starving her son finally meets psychiatrist late Monday night for court-ordered evaluation. 'I'll need to see her again before I issue an opinion,' says psychiatrist
The mother suspected of starving her toddler son underwent a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation Monday night. The woman was examined close to midnight at the private clinic of Dr. Yaakov Weill, and not at the home of the Froelich family where she is being held under house arrest, in an apparent attempt to avoid the media.
Sources estimated that the woman will be required to undergo another evaluation in order to determine whether she poses a threat to herself or her surroundings.
"I will likely need one or two more meetings with her before I issue an opinion," Dr. Weill told Ynet Tuesday. He defined their meeting last night as "an introductory meeting."
Weill naturally refrained from commenting on the meeting itself, due to doctor-patient privilege, but said: "A psychiatric examination is not love at first sight; it's a skill, a professional issue, something that takes time.
"I hope she agrees to meet again, but I can't force her," he added, saying he hoped to have another session with the mother Tuesday evening.
The woman reported to the examination despite pressure from the Haredi Community urging her to refrain from doing so until her sick son is transferred from Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center to another hospital, and until the court allows her to see her other children.
One of the main opponents to the evaluation was the community's spiritual leader, Rabbi Yitzhak Tuvia Weiss.
Representatives of the police and the mother convened at the judge's chambers on Monday afternoon to discuss why the suspect has yet to undergo the examination as the court ordered.
However, the woman's attorney, David Halevy, said Tuesday to Ynet following her psychiatric evaluation on Monday night, "From our perspective, she has fulfilled her obligation and has obeyed the court's decision." The prosecution indicated that it may not be possible for the evaluation to continue.
"We did not commit to a series of evaluations in one day, and no one expects this to happen. In any case, she will not be examined again today," said Halevy.
Meital Yasur-Beit Or contributed to the report
