ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 1997 TAG: 9703270056
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BOSTON
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The mother, an anesthesiologist, said she could afford $15,000 in legal fees to clear her name. But what about those who can't?
Every parent has probably considered it at least once: making that quick dash into the store while the kids are comfortably asleep in their car seats.
Dr. Bobbie Sweitzer did just that, leaving her two young girls locked in her Porsche while she dropped off a roll of film. And did she ever pay for that decision.
She found herself accused of child neglect, allegations that took her eight months and $15,000 in legal fees to beat.
``It never entered my mind that I was doing something wrong,'' Sweitzer said Wednesday.
It was July 2, and the Massachusetts General Hospital anesthesiologist was taking her daughters, then 1 and 4 1/2, to a puppet show at the mall not far from their home.
On the way, Sweitzer decided to drop off the film at a Sam's Club store in suburban Natick. The girls were sleeping soundly when she pulled into the parking lot.
She cracked the car windows, locked the doors, activated the alarm system and ran into the store. Sweitzer said the weather was cool and the children were out of her view for only about 20 or 30 seconds.
That was apparently all it took for another shopper to see the girls and call police. By the time officers arrived, Sweitzer was gone.
When she got home, there were two messages from a Natick detective wanting to discuss the ``incident'' at Sam's Club. She called police and found out she had been reported for leaving her children alone. And then the officer read the doctor her Miranda rights.
Although the Massachusetts Department of Social Services never filed criminal charges, the agency did say that Sweitzer posed a ``moderate'' to ``severe'' risk to her children. Abuse allegations remain on file until the youngest child turns 18; further allegations could lead to the children being taken away.
``As a physician, I'm well aware that hot cars can cause brain damage and dehydration,'' Sweitzer said, but social workers treated her ``as if I was a 16-year-old drug-addicted mother who hadn't thought twice about her children's safety.''
Social services spokeswoman Lorraine Carli said, ``We always walk that fine line of the need to protect children and balancing the unwarranted state intervention into families.''
She noted that cars in which children were left have been hijacked, hit and towed, and a 3-month-old boy died in the state two years ago after being left in a hot car.
Sweitzer never imagined her children would be taken, but she was worried about her reputation.
``I don't think I'd want to go to a doctor who's been accused of child abuse,'' Sweitzer said. ``I was willing to do anything that it would take to clear my name.''
What it took was lawyers, a hired psychologist, several character witnesses and $15,000 to fight a Jan.21 hearing.
On Tuesday, Sweitzer learned the social services agency was reversing its finding and expunging the allegation from her record.
Sweitzer said she could afford to clear her name. But what about those who can't?
``Unless you're willing to spend thousands of dollars to fight it,'' said her attorney, Robert Sherman, ``you get lost and chewed up by the system.''
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Bobbie Sweitzer holds 5-year-oldby CNBSydney (left) and 20-month-old Sheridan. color.