How Caregiver Separation Harms Children: A Biological Lens to One Child’s Trauma

Abstract

This manuscript discusses the story of Baby Doe, an infant from Afghanistan whose parents died during a raid by U.S. Marines. She was initially placed with relatives but one Marine, Joshua Mast, would “adopt” her without her caregivers’ knowledge. This manuscript briefly explains the history and neuroscience of maternal separation, and advocates for Baby Doe to be returned to her rightful caregivers.