“This envelope contains an emergency temporary restraining order and an ex parte motion for sole parental authority,” Marcus told the judge.

“Along with a sworn medical affidavit signed late yesterday by Dr.

Andrew Collins, the attending emergency physician at St.

Jude Hospital.”

Judge Miller put on her reading glasses and reached for the top document.

“Dr.

Collins’s affidavit describes how Mr.

Mitchell brought his fifteen-year-old daughter to the emergency department five weeks ago,” Marcus went on, “was given explicit instructions for an urgent specialist evaluation of a pelvic mass, and verbally refused care.”