Boy Sent to Psych Ward Against Mom's Wishes

Kids do funny things sometimes. Jack Dorman, 6, a student at a Los Angeles elementary school recently drew what school officials called a "disturbing picture." So what did they do? Take away his crayons? Call his parents? Send him to the principal's office?

No, they sent Jack Dorman off to a psychiatric center for a 72-hour hold. Now the mother, Syndi Dorman, is fuming mad and speaking out against the LAUSD after the incident went down at Taper Avenue Elementary in San Pedro.

Apparently Jack Dorman drew a picture of a violent video game along with a message that he wanted to die, KTLA reports. So while it's not as if the reaction of the school was completely out of left field, it was certainly extreme. According to Dorman, Jack suffers separation anxiety and is concerned about his father, who is in the Army, being deployed to Iraq, the Associated Press reports.

Dorman was contacted by the school and told them that she would take Jack to his own therapist. Nevertheless, she says school officials insisted that he go to the psych ward and already had an ambulance waiting.

The LAUSD stood behind its decision: "When any student indicates a desire to take his or her own life, the LAUSD is required to follow strict protocols to ensure the safety of the student ... The safety of LAUSD students is paramount. We did the right thing here," said Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ramon Cortines in a statement, KLTA reports.

Related Resources:

• 6-Year-Old's 'Disturbing Picture' Lands Him in Psych Ward (laist.com)
• Ex-Prosecutor, Harvard Law Grad Attacks SFO Cops with Metal Pole (FindLaw's Strategist)
• Crimes A to Z: Kidnapping (FindLaw)