Thursday, June 4, 1998 | 10:23 a.m.
State Assemblywoman Genie Ohrenschall was granted custody of her daughter Wednesday, bringing closure to a five-month battle between her, the Clark County Family Court system and Child Protective Services.
Katie Ross, 16, became a ward of the court in February, following an investigation by CPS that accused Ohrenschall of seeking homeopathy treatments for her daughter's ulcerative colitis, rather than having the teenager undergo an operation to remove her colon.
Ross had been remanded to the custody of James Orhrenschall, the assemblywoman's 25-year-old son. Family Court Juvenile Judge Gerald Hardcastle stipulated earlier this year that the teenager must be medically monitored, receive correspondence schooling and live in a clean environment.
"It was very short and very simple," Edward Marshall, Ohrenschall's attorney, said of Hardcastle's ruling Wednesday. "Katie got a glowing report from Child Protective Services. Nothing but good remarks."
At one time during her colitis, Ross' weight had dwindled from 90 to 50 pounds. Marshall said she presently is healthy and weighs 100 pounds.
Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, had sought various homeopathic and traditional medical treatments in an effort to avoid having her daughter's colon removed. The teenager had experienced severe pain, rectal bleeding and weight fluctuations since July 1995.
When Ross' colon perforated on Dec. 27, Ohrenschall was told by a surgeon at Sunrise Hospital that the teenager's life was in danger. Ohrenschall approved the operation.
Metro's abuse-and-neglect detail became involved when an anonymous complaint was filed against Ohrenschall, alleging that she jeopardized her daughter's life by not having the operation sooner.
"I still think," Marshall said, "with all due respect, that this was a case of government intrusion and overreaching."
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