The new Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya follows the compelling and tragic true story of the Kowalskis, whose daughter Maya’s health issues led to some grave allegations of child abuse, a complicated legal battle, and finally resulted in Maya being separated from her parents.
When Maya was nine years old, she began to experience painful burning sensations in her arms and legs. She was eventually diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a neurological condition which doctors at the time recommended by treated with controlled doses of ketamine.
In 2016, after apparently having shown improvement in her symptoms, Maya was rushed to St. Petersburg’s Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, once again in terrible pain. At this point, Maya’s mother, Beata Kowalski was reported as being “pushy” in insisting that doctors prescribe more ketamine to help Maya manage the pain.
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Back then, Dr. Sally Smith was the medical director of the child protection team for Pinellas County, where the hospital was located. When she was informed by Maya’s physician and nurses that Beata was insisting on higher doses of ketamine, she agreed with the medical team that this was not the conventional method of treatment for a patient as young as Maya.
The documentary recounts how Smith conducted a thorough investigation into the Kowalskis, including looking into Maya’s medical history—which involved visits to 30 different doctors—and even visiting her in the hospital without notifying the parents.
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She then filed a report in which she claimed that Maya was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder wherein a caregiver exaggerates or even worsens the symptoms of somebody in their care. In Smith’s report, she stated her belief that Beata was actually fabricating Maya’s symptoms, and manipulating her child for attention.
In the court case that followed, Maya was removed from her parents’ care and taken into state custody. Beata was subsequently diagnosed with depression and adjustment disorder following the separation, and died by suicide in January 2017.
Where is Dr. Sally Smith now?
Smith is known for filing reports which resulted in children being removed from their homes at disproportionately high rates compared to surrounding counties, and as the documentary notes, the Kowalskis were far from the only family to be irrevocably impacted by her decision-making. In fact, several children’s legal guardians have filed law suits against Smith.
However, Smith maintains that she always did her job to the utmost of her abilities, and to date has never faced personal, professional or legal consequence. The Smith family’s 2018 law suit against her employer, Suncoast Advocacy Services, was settled for $2.5 million, and Smith voluntarily retired from her post this year.
Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.
