Social worker accused of wrongful death by Hunter Tylo

Former Bold and the Beautiful star Hunter Tylo, 45, has accused a therapist of wrongful death in connection with the tragic accident Oct. 18 which ultimately claimed the life of her son Michael.  According to US, Hunter claims that Shanna Downing misdiagnosed Michael, 19, when she suggested seizures he was experiencing were "stress-related," despite the fact that he had suffered from the disorder since the age of 15.  Hunter also accuses Shanna of planting her son with "false memories."

Michael died by drowning after suffering a seizure while standing near the pool at the Tylo’s family home in Nevada.  In an interview on Larry King Live shortly after his death, Hunter said that Shanna had been treating Michael for approximately 18-months prior to the accident, and that the seizures did not decrease in frequency as a result of her care. 

Hunter and her ex-husband Michael have two daughters, Izabella Gabrielle, 10 ½ and Katya Ariel, 9 ½.  Hunter also has a son, Christopher, 27, from her first marriage to Tim Moreheart.

Source:  US Weekly

Comments

Her sons passing is so tragic and sad. But I don’t see the point in laying blame.

- Clare on December 6th, 2007

This makes no sense. Is this person a social worker or a medical doctor? Only doctors can medical diagnoses (e.g., of seizure disorders). You can’t sue a social worker for something that is medical malpractice, because a social worker cannot make that diagnosis in the first place.

- leika on December 6th, 2007

I understand that she wants to “blame” someone for her sons death, but I question why her son would be seeing a therapist for a seizure condition! That seems very odd to me!!!

- leslie on December 6th, 2007

They could turn that back on her and ask why (if she didn’t) didn’t she have her son checked out by a Neurologist. My kid has a seizure and you can be darn sure that outside of the trip to the ER their behind would be in the Neurologists office in a heart beat.

- Harley on December 6th, 2007

It states her husband; wording is wrong. They are divorced.

- Kara on December 6th, 2007

Did anyone see the interview? She was so cold and matter of fact, I would not even be able to speek, let alone go onto a “show”. Now to blame someone else, sounds odd. Although I feel for her loss, she seems as though she did not do enough to help his issue and the wat she acted on Larry King was just weird. Not a mourning Mother.

- Sarah on December 6th, 2007

I had a seizure once after I had stayed up all night studying for a class. After it was determined I didn’t have epilepsy or any kind of brain tumor, my neurologist still wanted to put me on medication because he said I may have a “lower threshold” for seizures. I didn’t want to be medicated for the rest of my life for a disorder I didn’t have so I declined, but I can attest to the fact that neurologists don’t take any kind of seizure activity lightly. I really question the fact that this kid was continually having seizures and wasn’t on medication. If my doctor told me that I may never have another seizure in my life but he suggests epileptic medication just in case, why was her son not given at least somewhat similar advice? I don’t think this woman should have been treating the kid, she sounds like someone who used alternative methods or something, which cannot help seizures. That being said, his parents saw for 18 mos. that his seizures weren’t ceasing and I think its their responsibility to get a 2nd doctors opinion. “False memories” and stress related seizures? She sounds like a psychiatrist. My neurologist never once talked to me about any of my memories lol.

- Sadie on December 6th, 2007

This lawsuit doesn’t seem to make sense. Wasn’t his death ruled accidental? How can she blame his therapist for that? If anyone has anymore information, please post it.

- Colleen on December 6th, 2007

Social workers can’t diagnose that kind of stuff, and any social worker who does that is not a good one to begin with. It is unfortunate what happened though.

- Kristyn on December 6th, 2007

Oh God I knew it! I predicted this would be coming in the comment I made on Nov 15 @ 2.58pm linked in this post. How she finds this justified is beyond me. Why is she doing this? This is going to put her in the spot light for all the wrong reasons.

- ella on December 6th, 2007

I agree with everyone’s posts here. First of all, he should have seen a medical doctor, not a therapist, second if he had been seeing the therapist for over a year and nothing was improving she should have sought other options (even though he shouldn’t have seen a therapist from the beginning).

Also, does anyone know whether she is a scientologist? I’m just curious whether that could have had anything to do with him not being put on meds.

- poppy on December 6th, 2007

Hunter has always been law suit happy. She has threatened to sue for magazine’s or websites for comments on her possible plastic surgery. I agree that lying blame is sad and I always hate these kinda lawsuits. Why did she allow him to be treated for so long under this woman if nothing was improving?

- jessica on December 6th, 2007

It was my understanding that he did not die from the seizure but died becuase he had a seizure and fell into a pool, which led to him unfortunately drowning. Even if they could pinpoint someone being responsible for not curing his his seizures, he still died becuase he fell into a pool! No one can be blamed for that! It is unfortuante that she is hadnling the death of her son by thinking about a lawsuit settlement.

- angelbaby33 on December 6th, 2007

This whole thing is incredibly sad. I can understand how She would been the need to point blame. Turning sadness into anger is a normal part of the grieving process.

though i am not sure where a lawsuit like this could possibly go, i can easily see how she feels that someone should “pay” for her sons death.

Hopfully she can find some way to get closure, maybe start a charity or raise awarness for those who suffer from siezure disorders?

- morgan on December 7th, 2007

I couldn’t find anything about her being a scientologist. I know they don’t believe in psychiatry, does that include therapists or just the medicating of people? I just still don’t understand why he wasn’t seeing a neurologist.

- Sadie on December 7th, 2007

Sadie, Scientologists do not believe in going to pshychiatrists, psychologists, etc AND they don’t believe in medicating for mental issues. From what I have read, L. Ron was very anti-psychiatry because his auditing technique was rejected by the American Psychiatrics Association. I have no idea if Hunter is a Scientologist though.

I feel terrible for her, but agree that this lawsuit seems misguided…unless there’s something we don’t know…

- PSB on December 7th, 2007

So unbelievably sad/tragic No mother/father should have to endure the pain, heartbreak of losing a child. That is a pain/loss you never “recover” from…

- Zoe on December 7th, 2007

Although I feel for Ms. Tylo, I hope the courts will not let this case go forward. Actually, it’s too bad her lawyer doesn’t have the ‘stones’ to tell her there is little chance she will win. It is a shame that celebrities feel they can blame people for their loved ones’ death, and win money when it’s usually no one’s fault. Ms. Tylo HAS money, why does she need more? Winning a court case won’t bring her son back. This is simply a case of having power over someone. The old saying is, ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’. Ms. Tylo, you have allowed your fame to give you a big head. I understand your grief, but please grieve in private and don’t blame the therapist for your son’s death. It’s not her fault. How would you feel if the situation were reversed? Would you want to be blamed and sued?

- Carol on December 7th, 2007

If you saw her on Larry King, she explained everything on there about what happened. Her youngest daughter had been seeing the therapist because of her issues (she only has one eye due to cancer) and then the therapist sucked the rest of the family in and started “treating” them, which is illegal.

- Ashlee on December 7th, 2007

how is “sucking in” other family members illegal?

- carrie on December 7th, 2007

Hunter is not a Scientologist she is a devout Christian and has been seen at Saddle Back Church. That is the Church that Rick Warren the author of Thu Purpose Driven Life preaches at. Her boyfriend plays in the band there and Rick Warren himself has been counseling her through this latest crisis.
From what I hear it may be a difficult case to prove because how can you prove the false memories? I feel so bad for this family because she has had to deal with her daughters illness, an awful divorce and now the death of her son. My prayers go out to her.

- Robin on December 9th, 2007

It’s sad…she used to be gorgeous but she has ruined her looks due to too much plastic surgery.

- R on December 9th, 2007

We don’t have all the details, but if her son was misdiagnosed and it led to his death, then, she is doing the right thing. A misdiagnosis should always be dealt with. And is there another legal way to point out a misdiagnosis aside from a lawsuit?

- Charity on December 11th, 2007