Removal of kids 'abuse by officials

[grace]

TWO healthy children who had never been abused or neglected by their parents were forced into foster care last September after it was found the couple had smoked cannabis.

 

The two children -- a girl, aged two, and her baby brother -- were removed from their home by police officers after two case workers from the NSW Department of Community Services had reported their concerns over the parents' drug use.

 

But three months later, NSW Supreme Court judge George Palmer ordered that the children be returned to their parents, whom a psychologist had found to be "loving, sensitive and ... well able to provide for the safety, welfare and wellbeing of their infant children".

 

Justice Palmer described the actions of the DOCS workers as a "serious abuse" of their position, and questioned whether it was the policy of the department "that any parent who uses cannabis, no matter how infrequently, is for that reason alone unfit to care for a child".

 

If so, "that view should be made public, so there may be public debate about it", the judge said. "There was no evidence that their cannabis use in itself posed any direct risk of harm to the children."

 

The case began in April 2007, when the mother checked into hospital, believing she was in premature labour with her daughter. She checked herself out, apparently with a cannula still in her arm.

 

As required by law, the hospital reported this incident to DOCS. Two months later, the mother returned to hospital to give birth to a baby girl.

 

Nine months later, DOCS filed a "care plan" for the little girl, saying the parents would have to submit to urine testing if they wanted to keep custody of their child.

 

Justice Palmer said the requirement for the parents to remain "drug-free" or face losing their children, was "questionable". "I would describe the parents' use of cannabis as recreational rather than addictive or dependent," he said.

 

The parents agreed to provide urine samples to DOCS until June last year.

 

DOCS commenced legal proceedings in September.

 

The judge said there was "no evidence whatsoever that the department had any concerns at this time as to the wellbeing or safety of the children".

 

In court, DOCS said it wanted the parents to provide random urine samples, accept random home visits, take part in counselling, and put their baby inchildcare at least two days aweek.

 

Justice Palmer said these "heavy-handed" demands were intended "to be a goad and an insult" to parents who were "taking good care of their children".

 

The parents were angry, but agreed to the conditions. Last September, after the woman had given birth to the baby boy, the couple missed a meeting with DOCS officers, who promptly visited their home.

 

According to a DOCS report of the incident, the mother was "making a hot drink" when officers arrived.

 

"Her hair was messy and knotted. She appeared to have lost a lot of weight. Her clothes were hanging off her and her bones were protruding."

 

The DOCS officer said to the woman: "You look like you've lost a lot of weight."

 

The mother replied: "You look like you've put on weight."

 

Justice Palmer said "the parents were entitled to be angry" because they had been threatened with the loss of their children, for no apparent reason.

 

Yet DOCS officers returned to the house with police just hours after the mother had abused the DOCS worker, and took the children.

 

A report by Sydney psychologist Lizabeth Tong praises the parents.

 

It describes the mother as "a tall, attractive, willowy woman" who was "neatly dressed, well groomed and articulate".

 

The father was "candid, forthright and engaging ... he appeared appropriately protective of his partner", Dr Tong wrote.

 

Given the lack of evidence of any parental abuse, Justice Palmer said the act of removing the children from the family home constituted "a serious abuse by certain DOCS officers".

 

NSW Community Services Minister Linda Burney yesterday refused to directly say whether cannabis use would render a parent unfit to care for a child.

 

Ms Burney released a statement, saying: "If caseworkers believe the safety of a child is at risk because their parents' ability to care for them is severely affected by drug use or alcohol, then they will take action."

 

Author: Caroline Overington

Date: 21 January 2009

Source: The Australian

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...63-2702,00.html

[Chronmasta]

Those DOCS workers need a led tablet

 

Thank fark the parents got their kids back.......DOCS wouldve had a huge shit fight on their hands if they didnt

 

 

Very interesting

 

 

 

chron

[iamnotacop]

Very fucking sad. There is no other word for it. I am extremely dissapointed to live in a country that abuses parents like this. I have no problem with people protecting children, but for crying out loud they should be accountable for their mistakes/abuses. I feel sorry for the parents in this case and any other parents in similar cases. Losing your children even for a three months must be totally devastating.

[MongyMan]

they seem to be making a habit of this https://cannabis.community.forums.ozstoners...106&hl=docs

[entheofarm]

Thats Farked!!!

 

assholes drinking themselves stupid at the pub with their kids in toe or leaving them at home whilst they drink themselves stupid or even getting blind drunk at home whilst the kids live off cornflakes and fuckin stale bread don't raise the concerns of DOCS but someone smokes a spliff and the bastards take their kids away.......

 

un fuckin real