The family of a Connecticut teenager at the center of a 16-month medical custody battle in Massachusetts stemming from dueling diagnoses is suing Boston Children's Hospital.
The lawsuit announced Thursday alleges the civil rights of Justina Pelletier, of West Hartford, and her parents, Louis and Linda Pelletier, were violated and they suffered extreme emotional distress.
Justina, now 17, attended Thursday's announcement in a wheelchair.
Tufts Medical Center had treated Justina for mitochondrial disease, a cellular disorder, but Boston Children's Hospital later diagnosed her problems as psychiatric.
When her parents rejected that diagnosis and tried to take her back to Tufts, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families took custody of Justina, setting off the dispute.
She remained in DCF custody for more than a year.
Boston Children's Hospital said in a statement Thursday it welcomes the chance to "vigorously defend" the care it provided Justina.
