Parentectomy is a colloquial term describing the separation of a child from one or both parents. This concept is particularly pertinent in the context of children's hospitalization. Dr. M. Murray Peshkin, who served as the medical director of the Children's Research Institute and Hospital in Denver from 1940 to 1959, observed significant improvement in his most severe asthma patients once they were admitted to the hospital, even before their treatments began to take effect. Based on these observations, Peshkin supported this separation for children with severe asthma who did not respond to other therapies. He believed the improvement was due to the child's removal from home allergens and the alleviation of psychological tensions with their parents.
