Custody & Medical Decision-making In Teen Eating Disorder Relapse

I’m seeking legal guidance, not medical opinions.

My teenage son has a diagnosed eating disorder and has been treated by licensed providers using evidence-based care, including family-based treatment (the gold standard for treatment). This has been an ongoing medical condition over the past year, with periods of improvement followed by relapse.

Relevant facts:

• His eating disorder was identified early October 2024 and treated intensively. • After initial improvement, he relapsed in June with bulimic behaviors, confirmed by providers. • His treatment team has emphasized the importance of consistent meal supervision and completion. • During time at his father’s home, my son has repeatedly missed meals. • Currently, my son is losing weight, and both his school and treating psychologist have documented renewed signs of his eating disorder. When this concern (and others) for possible relapse are raised, the other parent frequently minimizes them or frames them as miscommunication, rather than following the treatment plan. When the other parent asks my son “what’s going on?” after hearing from the school about these behaviors- It is justified by explanations such as “he already ate” or “he was in the bathroom.” 

Providers have cautioned that this pattern is consistent with relapse behaviors and should be addressed immediately rather than treated as misunderstandings. I am following guidance from his licensed treatment providers and deferring all clinical decisions to them.

My legal questions:

1. How much weight do courts place on the timeline and pattern of a chronic medical condition, rather than isolated incidents? 2. At what point does repeated failure to follow a prescribed treatment plan become medical neglect rather than a parental disagreement? 3. Do family courts typically defer to treatment teams in cases involving eating disorders, or are these often minimized unless a crisis occurs? 4. What types of documentation are most persuasive when the concern is a pattern over time rather than a single event? 5. How do courts generally weigh situations where one parent alleges the other is “overreacting,” but concerns are corroborated by providers and the school? 

I’m trying to understand how courts view eating disorders legally. Are they considered chronic, relapsing medical conditions requiring consistency or are they more stigmatized? What thresholds typically matter in custody or decision-making disputes.

Any insight from family law attorneys or those with experience in medically complex custody cases would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Location: Maryland