Woman loses custody of daughter because she is a doctor fighting pandemic

With each passing week, the list of things that are being impacted by the horrific spread of coronavirus keeps growing.

Even so, a decision handed down last week by a judge in Florida about the custody of a young child, is still shocking.

Dr. Theresa Greene, an emergency room doctor in South Florida, previously shared custody of her 4-year-old daughter with her ex-husband. However, that arrangement was abruptly terminated by a fresh ruling against the divorced mother, NBC Miami reported.

Circuit Judge Bernard Shapiro issued an emergency order granting the girl’s father, Eric Greene, sole custody of the child until the crisis is over – whatever that means, and whenever it happens.

In the court’s decision, Shapiro wrote, “In order to protect the best interests of the minor child, including but not limited to the minor child’s safety and welfare, this Court temporarily suspends the Former Wife’s timesharing until further Order of Court. The suspension is solely related to the outbreak of COVID-19.”

The judge also made it known that his ruling was made to protect the health and well-being of the child.

Theresa Greene, who tested negative for COVID-19 last week, responded to the judge’s ruling by saying that “the family court system now is stressing me almost more than the virus.”

“I was just shocked that the judge would take this stance without talking to medical experts and knowing the facts and take it so lightly, take my child from me, and not think of the effect on her, her mental and psychological well-being,” she added.

Theresa Greene also said that the custody battle will not stop her from following the oath she took to help people.

“I know I’m not alone, first responders, nurses, so many people in this position who, because they’re divorced, their children are suffering and they’re being told they can’t see them, and it’s just not fair,” Greene said.

She also noted that the American Medical Association’s position on this issue is that frontline physicians during this pandemic should be able to go home to their families and to their children, as long as they take the proper precautions.