After spending countless hours dealing with this sad case, I think it is necessary to take stock and ask a simple question. What will resolve the dispute? From the many comments of the supporters of Beth and Michael - it is clear that many perhaps most commentators on both sides really have no idea of what has gone on and what is going on now. However there are a significant number that clearly have knowledge about the events and the people.
After having seen the documents involved it becomes clear that what is going on is a dispute by two sincere intelligent individuals who have totally different understanding of reality. In other words one of these parties has a serious misunderstanding of objective reality in this case. The result is not only pain for both of them, but their children are being destroyed.While I hope to publish the main documents with translation in the near future, I don't think that is going to resolve the issue. Let me explain why.
One of the most forceful and cogent opponents of Beth is a commentator name Bubbe. see comments here. Bubbe obviously has full access to Dr. Schlesinger's inner most thoughts as well the documents in this case. In fact she/he sounds amazingly similar to Dr. Schlesinger himself. Nevertheless Bubbe's understanding of events is not that of Beth nor is it consistent with my understanding or that of of others familiar with the case. Thus publishing the documents probably will not resolve anything.
It is very important to note the incredible fact that through all of this - Dr. Schlesinger has not been given a psychiatric examination. Clearly either he or Beth is seriously misunderstanding reality. Beth has already been examined by a professional and declared to be free of mental illness.
I think that the final resolution of this matter would come about if Dr. Schlesinger agrees to be given a mental health evaluation by a neutral psychiatrist (i.e. has no ties to him or his family or judges who are connected to his family). If he is declared to have a serious problem in understanding the reality in this case that would validate Beth's position. On the other hand if he gets a clean bill of mental health - I don't think that Beth would have any further basis for continuing her fight.
Therefore I call on both parties to reach an agreement as to what conditions the fighting will stop - which includes as a minimum as psychiatric evaluation of Dr. Schlesinger. I think in addition that it would also be important if the twins are given a full mental health and developmental evaluation. The goal of the evaluation should be to determine what is in the best interest of the twins.
If the evaluations determine that the fault lies with Beth - as Bubbe claims - then I think she shoud agree to stop fighting for her children. On the other hand if the fault lies with Dr. Schlesinger - he should give up custody and Beth should be allowed to return with them to England.
Update: I am not calling for a public posting of anyone's psychiatric reports. I am simply requesting that Michael have an evaluation as mandated by the Vienna Appeals and Supreme Courts and which was never done.
Update: I am not calling for a public posting of anyone's psychiatric reports. I am simply requesting that Michael have an evaluation as mandated by the Vienna Appeals and Supreme Courts and which was never done.
It is important to note that this proposal is my own and I have not discussed it with either Beth or Dr. Schlesinger.
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