Oklahoma DHS changes policies amid girl’s death case

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Department of Human Services records show the agency has made policy changes and disciplined five employees after a 10-year-old girl died from an asthma attack.

The Oklahoman reports the girl died on April 28 at a hospital after suffering an asthma attack at her aunt’s apartment. No charges were filed in the case.

Records show the girl and her siblings had been staying with their aunt while DHS worked to help their mother.

DHS Director Ed Lake said in a written statement that the child’s health was neglected because staff involved in the case were “overly focused on correcting the mother’s problems.”

Child welfare specialists are now required to consult a DHS nurse on all cases involving lack of medical attention. The child’s mother had been accused of neglecting her medical needs since 2012.