Chapter 17 - Concealing Vivienne was legally complicated
Everyone assumed:
Kidnapping.
Not so simple.
Vivienne was not physically held by Delphine.
North Vale believed it was treating a vulnerable patient under confidential private arrangements.
Early incapacity was genuine.
Later isolation was maintained through deception and fear.
Potential offenses included:
Obstruction.
False statements.
Interference with a missing-person investigation.
Identity-record misuse.
Possibly unlawful control of records.
Prosecutors had to prove what Delphine knowingly did after inheriting the situation.
Eleanor was dead.
Could not be charged.
North Vale cooperated.
No evidence its clinicians knowingly participated in criminal concealment.
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Their biggest failure was accepting third-party representations too long without ensuring an independent advocate once Vivienne regained capacity.
Regulators reviewed that.
