Chilling Example Of Dictatorial Bureaucracy?

[LazyGun]

If the events of this story are as written, I find this story from the Telegraph to be an extraordinary example of abuse of power, plain and simple. Really quite scary.

I am not at all sure I can understand how it was that all those steps between what seems to be a mental breakdown at work to a stay in a psychiatric hospital and then onto a forced caesarean were taken, seemingly without any challenges as to their legality.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10486452/Woman-has-child-taken-from-her-womb-by-social-services.html

[wolf63]

I have read the article and it is a strange situation. I am Bipolar and until 10 years ago held down a job in the Civil Service it is a horrible illness but not one that makes you automatically unable to function.

As with all these stories there is much more information that we do not have and we will never know the full story.

I don't envy the Social Workers in their work - they can't win whatever they do.

[anneasquith]

without knowing the full details, social services did not remove the child from the womb, the surgeons did that, and they would only do this if the mother was unable to make an informed choice and/or the baby was in danger being delivered vaginally,

[CokeTulip]

This is a first and probably more complex than appears - it is hard to imagine Social services not making appropriate checks prior to taking this route especially as it was likely to get attention.
As mentioned by others we don't have the full story. I wonder if they were aware of family in Italy or if she (mum) communicated anything while unwell. It must have been a tricky matter if about to give birth and risks apparent - so I dont envy SS in what they have to deal with.

On the plus side - the baby is safe and the mum is safe and no doubt the legal aspects will be aired soon and the rights & wrongs etc. Interesting though.

[Gromit]

Scary.

[Peter Pedant]

Lazy Gun - I commend you for not going off half-cocked

judges dont usually order a c/section - they lawfully consent on behalf of the patient.

lawyers ARE paid to say they are flabbergasted at regular intervals - this one's gast has never been so flabbered - ever !

I think the lesson here is dont go abroad and go mad
if you went to Turkey unaccompanied and went mad ? what would happen to you ?

[pixie373]

That is shocking!

[Baby_Sham]

I read this, this morning. It said she is bipolar, had a panic attack as a result of not taking her medication, and was then sectioned under the mental health act. FOR HAVING A PANIC ATTACK??? :-/
There has got to be much more to this story.

[Peter Pedant]

.
it is said, Babysham well noticed
yeah by the lawyer I suppose

I bet it comes out she was threatening to harm herself or the child.......

[rockyracoon]

I dislike these stories as we only ever get one side, social services are not allowed to comment on any of their cases so their side rarely gets heard. A court deemed there was sufficient evidence to carry out the procedure (which doesn't sit well with me on the face of it) so I'd certainly like to know more details of how this came about before I got enraged on behalf of the poor woman.

A sad case though :(

[China Doll]

This is 'highly unusual' as quoted in the newspaper. Babies going straight in to foster care when they are born are still left to be born naturally. I think there is a hell of a lot we do not know here regarding why social services felt so strongly and why a judge agreed with them (not always in sync these two services) - I think I'll refrain from finding it scary or an abuse of power until we know more, (if we ever do).

[woofgang]

yup, I am guessing there is only one third or less of the story reported here. I remember years ago there was a story on the local paper about a passenger who had been sectioned off a cruise ship and into secure care because he washed his socks in the cabin sink....errm I don't think so!

[hc4361]

Could it be that she was passed 40 weeks and the baby wasn't presenting properly for a natural birth and the mother refused to give permission for a C-Section?

Could it be that she was totally irrational, a danger to herself and her unborn child and refused medical help?

Could she have been suicidal?

[LazyGun]

I think those suggesting there ought to be much more to this story are correct - at least I hope they are correct, because otherwise, on the evidence of the story as presented in the media its both shocking and appalling treatment of a pregnant,bipolar woman.

I believe the local MP is calling for some clarification so I await greater detail, assuming patient confidentiality allows for it.

[hc4361]

Don't know why the social services are getting the flack - the courts ordered both the C-section and the foster placement.

[China Doll]

Agreed Hc, ultimate decision was with court - probably with supporting medical evidence somehow.

We have pregnant women with severe mental health problems and other safeguarding issues - I've never heard of this being done or even suggested before.

[hc4361]

I can only imagining it ever happening if the life of mother and/or baby is endangered without the intervention.
The decision wouldn't be taken lightly.

[youngmafbog]

Let's perhaps wait and get the full story, amazing how so many people are prepared to believe without knowing.

[cassa333]

The courts don't section someone, force a c-section then take the child away without someone, social services in this case, demanding it to be done.

Social services are the ones who thought it was the only way to go and even if it was, even if this woman was so bad that it was absolutly the only thing to do, the woman, before her child could be safely delivered, they should have contacted her family and the family courts in her own country. She doesn't come from some backwoods country that doesn't have proper mental healthcare. For gods sake it is another EU country!!!


It is diabolical tha they hae run roughshod over a foriegn national like this without getting her own family/country to do something.

How would you feel if that happened to your mother or sister or girlfriend in another country?

[hc4361]

cassa, was it an emergency situation? Did anyone try to contact the family?

We don't know the facts and we never will. We may hear the woman's side of the story but that is all.

Social services often make demands of the court and are refused for all sorts of reasons.

[pixie373]

I can't think of any situation where this would be an appropriate action.