Fresno County Department of Social Services v. David G.

Raymond G. was born on January 13, 1990. He weighed nine pounds at birth. He was the fifth child of Darlene G. and David G. (hereafter mother and father, respectively).

Raymond’s weight was monitored by medical personnel after his checkup at age two and one-half months showed a weight gain from birth of only about one pound. His weight failed to progress and by April 19, 1990, one month later, he still weighed only ten pounds, placing him below the fifth percentile for his age, compared with his ninetieth percentile ranking at birth. Suspecting that the child was not thriving on the cow’s milk he was being fed, medical workers constantly warned the parents to feed Raymond formula rather than cow’s milk; the parents resisted following these instructions. Raymond was hospitalized on April 19. After receiving formula feeding for five days, Raymond increased his weight to eleven pounds and four ounces and was ready for discharge.

On April 24, 1990, a Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 1 petition was filed seeking to have Raymond declared a dependent ward of the court. The petition alleged that mother and father negligently failed to provide adequate food to Raymond,…