Doctor Father Accused of Waterboarding Daughter

Delaware pediatrician Melvin Morse and his wife were arrested this week after their 11-year-old daughter accused them of punishing her by holding her face under a running faucet. Also known as “waterboarding,” this type of torture feels like drowning to the victim, and President Obama banned it in 2009. While Dr. Morse has been charged with carrying out the abuse, wife Pauline was also implicated for standing by and not stopping it. The daughter charges that there were four instances of waterboarding between 2009 and 2011.

Plus: Study Says Parents May Be Inflicting Emotional Abuse Without Knowing It

Dr. Morse is known for his study of near-death experiences in children, and wrote the book Closer to the Light in 1991, for which he was interviewed by Larry King.

This is not the first allegation of abuse. In July, authorities were notified after the daughter told friends that her parents dragged her from the car by the ankles, and spanked her. However, Dr. Morse’s attorney disputes that story, saying the girl refused to move from the car for four hours, and was finally carried inside.

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The couple has been charged with reckless endangerment, conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child. Both have been ordered to cease contact with the daughter and her 5-year-old sister, who are both in protective custody.

If these abuse allegations are true, what would be an appropriate punishment for the parents? Leave a comment.