Elian should get letters -- not visits -- from Miami relatives, psychiatrist says

April 26, 2000
Web posted at: 10:50 p.m. EDT (0250 GMT)

In this story: 'A quiet period of emotional healing' Not a formal psychiatric evaluation RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A government-appointed psychiatrist who interviewed Elian Gonzalez told a federal court that it may be helpful to Elian to receive letters, photos and tapes from his Miami relatives, but that visits from them could be harmful to the boy.

Dr. Paulina Kernberg of Cornell University Medical College also said the child's apparent feelings for his older cousin, Marisleysis, may be the "romantic feelings of a school boy," rather than the feelings expressed toward a mother figure. Marisleysis Gonzalez cared for Elian for five months -- from his rescue off the coast of Florida on November 25 until he was removed from her Miami home Saturday by federal agents.

AUDIO Dr. Paulina Kernberg, who spent more than two hours with Elian on Tuesday, says he is doing very well 444K/20 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    VIDEO Alan Diaz, the Associated Press photographer who was inside the house during the raid, recounts the scene to AP Radio's Tony Winton-- as shown on 'CNN & Time.' (April 24) QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K INS agents remove Elian Gonzalez from his great-uncle's Miami home at 5 a.m. Saturday. (April 22) QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     RESOURCES Who's who in the Elian Gonzalez case     MESSAGE BOARD US/Cuba relations     CNN - GALLUP POLL Public: Reunion of Elian with Father Should Have Occurred Earlier     SEARCH WARRANT Search warrant obtained to seize Elian on Saturday, April 22     ALSO Capitol Hill debate over Elian Gonzalez stays heated

The child psychiatrist's initial assessment was filed Wednesday with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta in support of the government's position that only Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, may legally speak for Elian in the asylum case.

The four-page report by Kernberg about her visit Tuesday with the boy says, "Elian and his father appear to enjoy a rich, varied relationship."

Kernberg said Elian is at ease and playful with his father. "In my judgment Elian has a relationship with his father that is characterized by admiration and pride," she wrote.

The psychiatrist, who is fluent in Spanish, spent about 2 1/2 hours observing Juan Gonzalez and Elian separately and then together with Elian's step-mother and infant half-brother.

"In my opinion, a visit by Elian's Miami relatives would not be advisable in their current angry state," Kernberg wrote. "In that frame of mind they would likely be disruptive for the child, who demands a quiet period of emotional healing from the last few weeks of stress."

Kernberg said indirect communication from the relatives may be useful.

"It is my opinion that Elian would benefit from contact from his Miami relatives, in the form of letters, photographs, and cassette tapes with recorded messages," she told the court.

Kernberg said the Miami relatives could benefit from understanding the differentiation in their roles as relatives of the child, and as members of their Miami community.

"For Elian's benefit, it would also be helpful for them to receive counseling to aid them in accepting and supporting Elian's reunion with his father," she wrote.

At a news conference in Washington on Wednesday, Dr. Jose de la Gandara of the Cuban American Psychiatric Association said the bonds Elian established in Miami are equally important.

"Notwithstanding Elian's obvious bonding with his father, he must be given immediate access to his family from Miami, especially Marisleysis, whom Elian himself identified as his surrogate mother," de la Gandara said. "Family reunification is imperative."

Another child psychiatrist, who was present Saturday when federal agents removed Elian and who is supportive of the Miami relatives, also disputes Kernberg's findings.

"She never saw Elian before the whole raid, she never met the family for an evaluation process, she never spoke to the psychologists that have been treating Elian, she never looked at the reports of the psychological testing that was available on Elian," said Dr. Lydia Usategui. "And now she gets together for two hours (with Elian and his father) and makes this recommendation."

The Cuban-American doctors also said any evaluation of Elian should be conducted by doctors who have "a thorough understanding of Cuban culture and the social and political intricacies of the case."

The Miami family has asked the federal appeals court to bar all doctors and officials from Cuba from meeting with Elian.

Kernberg is one of three mental health experts that U.S. officials sent to Miami two weeks ago to assess Elian's condition. At that time, they met with Elian's great uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, but were unable to interview the child.

Kernberg told the appeals court that during her visit with Elian and his family Tuesday at Andrews Air Force Base the boy told his step-mother that he has a secret love named Mary.

"In my observations of Elian, there were indications that Mary (his cousin Marisleysis) may be an idealized love rather than a maternal figure. His feelings for Marisleysis are similar to the romantic feelings of a school boy for his teacher or a wished-for girlfriend," Kernberg wrote.

Kernberg noted that Elian tired easily. She attributed that to the constant crowds, news media exposure, and sometimes late hours at his temporary Miami home.

The psychiatrist said she had brought toy soldiers for Elian to play with. She said she wanted to assess his reaction to their appearance, which was similar to that of the officers who had seized him early Saturday.

"He engaged in this sequence of play with pleasure and without anxiety," she said. "I conclude that his removal from his Miami relatives' home, although clearly startling and frightening, was in all likelihood not a traumatic experience producing lasting effects."

The preliminary assessment does not constitute a formal psychiatric evaluation or examination, according to Justice Department spokeswoman Carole Florman.

Any formal treatment of Elian in his new surroundings at Carmichael Farm in Maryland will be determined in consultation with his father, according to Justice officials.

Kernberg told the court she is willing to meet with Elian and his family every two weeks to observe the child's progress.

Correspondent Kate Snow and Producer Terry Frieden contributed to this report

Sources: Elian Gonzalez to receive visitors from Cuba on Wednesday
April 25, 2000
INS: Elian's Miami family tried to block agents
April 24, 2000
Father won't see Elian's Miami relatives for time being
April 23, 2000
Elian's Miami relatives turned away from meeting with father
April 22, 2000
Federal agents seize Elian in pre-dawn raid
April 22, 2000
Reno ponders force, other options, to end Elian standoff
April 22, 2000
Elian's father pleads for son; Clinton backs boy's return
April 21, 2000

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