The tragic and explosive family drama unfolding in a Rhode Island family courtroom has gripped public attention, blending heart-wrenching grief, explosive allegations of medical abuse, and a fierce battle over a little girl’s future. At its core is Scott Naso, a 40-year-old police detective and widowed father, who accuses his late wife’s physician parents of contributing to her untimely death through a pattern of behavior resembling Munchausen syndrome by proxy—now formally termed factitious disorder imposed on another. The grandparents, Dr. Siavash Ghoreishi and Dr. Jila Khorsand, both retired doctors, counter by seeking visitation rights with their only granddaughter, Laila, insisting that denying them access punishes an innocent child and ignores a once-close family bond.

This ongoing trial, which began in October 2025 at Kent County Family Court and has continued through multiple sessions—with resumption set for late February 2026—pits fundamental parental rights against grandparents’ claims under Rhode Island law. It has exposed raw emotions, medical records, heated testimony, and a video of a frustrated outburst that has become central evidence. What began as a loving family built against the odds has devolved into accusations of negligence, overmedication, and manipulation, raising profound questions about trust, medical ethics, and who truly gets to decide a child’s best interests.

A Love Story Cut Short by Cancer

Scott Naso and Shahrzad “Sherry” Naso’s relationship was one of resilience and hope. They met through mutual friends in 2016 and married in 2020 at their home in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Sherry, diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, underwent chemotherapy and radiation, yet the couple dreamed of building a family. In July 2021, their daughter Laila arrived via donor egg, Scott’s sperm, and a surrogate—financially supported by Sherry’s parents. Sherry embraced full-time motherhood, while Scott, a narcotics investigator with the Middletown Police Department, balanced his demanding career with helping run a summer shaved ice business.

For years, the family appeared idyllic. Sherry’s parents, Dr. Ghoreishi (a retired pediatrician) and Dr. Khorsand (a retired pathologist), lived nearby in East Greenwich and played active roles, often babysitting Laila full-time. Sherry trusted her parents deeply for medical advice, a dynamic that would later become the flashpoint of the dispute.

Tragically, Sherry’s cancer returned aggressively but went undetected for too long. Beginning around 2021-2023, she experienced escalating symptoms: physical weakness, dizziness, mental confusion, numbness, and bowel issues. Her parents attributed these to Prozac withdrawal, lymphedema, or a virus—explanations Sherry herself sometimes echoed, though texts and records later painted a more complicated picture. In December 2023, a non-family doctor visit failed to identify the issue. Desperate, Scott secretly arranged a consultation with a neurologist friend in early 2024. An MRI revealed a massive 1.65-inch brain tumor. Surgery followed in April 2024, but Sherry died just two weeks later at age 37—three months shy of Laila’s third birthday.

Devastated, Scott blamed his in-laws’ involvement for delaying proper diagnosis. “But for their negligent and reckless medical care, [Sherry] would [have] sought appropriate medical care and still be alive, as her symptoms would not have been masked,” he stated in court documents. No criminal charges have been filed, but the allegation lingers like a shadow over the family.

The Munchausen Allegations Surface

In the wake of Sherry’s death, Scott severed contact with his in-laws and dove into medical records. What he uncovered horrified him: over 100 prescriptions written by Ghoreishi for Sherry across a decade, and more than 30 for young Laila—including controlled substances and anxiety medications. Ghoreishi admitted in court to prescribing controlled substances, which is illegal for family members under certain regulations, though treating relatives isn’t outright banned by law (but discouraged by medical ethics).

Scott filed a formal complaint with the Rhode Island Department of Health in January 2025, accusing the grandparents of Munchausen syndrome by proxy against both Sherry and Laila. He claimed they used “a combination of prescription medications, physical, emotional, and psychological abusive tactics to intentionally cause harm,” fostering dependency and masking serious conditions. Specific incidents included allegations that the grandparents held Laila down to administer prednisone for supposed croup without Scott’s knowledge or consent, leaving him with an “uneasy feeling” that prompted deeper scrutiny.

Scott’s attorney, Veronica Assalone, has framed the case as a “David and Goliath” battle. She emphasizes that state law and ethics codes discourage physicians from treating immediate family, and points to Ghoreishi’s extensive charting and prescribing for Sherry—far more than any other doctor—as evidence of overreach. Scott also alleges fraudulent insurance claims, including 27 billed for his own care (which he denies receiving beyond one antibiotic), some tied to unrelated events like a wedding in Maine.

The Grandparents’ Heartfelt Plea

Dr. Ghoreishi and Dr. Khorsand retired the day Sherry died, a poignant detail underscoring their grief. They petitioned the family court in fall 2024 for supervised visitation with Laila, their only grandchild and the last living link to their daughter. Under Rhode Island law, grandparents can seek visitation if it’s deemed in the child’s best interest—even over a fit parent’s objection.

In emotional testimony on October 20, 2025, Khorsand described her bond with Laila: “She would be so excited [and] jump up and down when they saw each other. She would also ‘hug me [and say], “GiGi, I love you. You’re my best friend.”’” She portrayed a once-cordial relationship with Scott, now shattered. Khorsand expressed bafflement at the cutoff, suggesting Scott was punishing them: “I do. I do.” Both grandparents affirmed Scott as a fit father but raised concerns about his temper, introducing a video from April 2024—three days before Sherry’s MRI—in which Scott shouted at his wife in frustration: “You make me hate them and, in turn, I hate you.”

Scott later explained the outburst as a “cry of frustration” born of desperation to get Sherry medical help, despite her parents’ reassurances that she was fine. Ghoreishi testified that Sherry insisted he remain her pediatrician even after retirement plans, out of love, and described prescriptions like methylprednisolone, furosemide, and lidocaine as “minor.” He denied some specifics (like gabapentin) despite records showing four prescriptions.

The grandparents deny any Munchausen-like behavior, insisting their care was loving and appropriate. They offered no public comment for the People article but have maintained through testimony that they were Laila’s primary caretakers pre-death, with no other options.

A Father’s Fight for Protection

Since Sherry’s death, Scott has focused solely on Laila, now 4. He describes her as “amazing” and “resilient,” noting how she daily looks at photos of her mother, saying “mommy is so beautiful” and recalling reading, singing, and playing together. But he also reports regression in her behavior and emotions after the loss, observed by preschool teachers and counselors—changes he attributes to the prior environment.

“I needed to protect my child, plain and simple. That is my sole objective,” Scott says. He rejected alleged offers of money from his in-laws to restore contact, declaring, “I’m not for sale and, more importantly, my daughter’s not for sale—not for any amount of money. This is about keeping Laila safe.”

Financially strained—on paid administrative leave since April 2024 and facing mounting legal bills—Scott launched a GoFundMe campaign (“Justice for Sherry & Laila”) with help from Sherry’s friend Kajsa Kempenaar. He fears bankruptcy but remains resolute.

Broader Implications and Ongoing Battle

The trial has spotlighted constitutional questions: Does a fit parent’s right to decide who has access to their child outweigh grandparents’ claims, especially absent proven harm? Assalone warns the case could escalate to appeals, potentially reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.

As proceedings resume in late February 2026 and extend into March, Scott is expected to testify. All parties profess love for Laila, yet the rift seems irreparable. This is more than a custody dispute—it’s a cautionary tale of grief twisted by suspicion, medical trust eroded, and a child’s innocence caught in the crossfire.

In the end, one question haunts the courtroom: Who truly knows what’s best for Laila? For now, the answer remains in the hands of a judge, as a widowed father fights to shield his daughter from the very family that once helped bring her into the world.