Kittylicious

What is text messages for??

Saturday, October 17, 2009 4:29:18 AM

A heavily pregnant woman received an SMS message just two weeks before she was due to give birth, informing her that her baby would be taken into care by child welfare authorities.

The 32-year-old woman is a previous addict and has been subject to careful monitoring by the local council and health authorities during her pregnancy. She has also been subject to regular drug tests during that time, which her lawyer said the woman was willing to undertake for fear of losing the baby.

However, the Council in Mid-Jutland contacted the woman via text message saying the baby would be taken from her immediately after the birth. The council said that it usually contacted residents by letter or telephone, but had not been successful in this case, so the decision was taken to send an SMS to the woman.

The woman’s lawyer said she feared it was a sign that that the authorities were too afraid to break the bad news to the mother personally and purposefully chose an impersonal way of communication.

But head of the council’s child and family department, said that it was not the case, and had advised the caseworker in question about the correct procedure for contacting clients.

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Honestly - bad messages shouldn't be given via sms. Not break ups, firings or other bad news.

Cakes I - phone orderCakes II - More phone orders

Comments

Dacotah # Saturday, October 17, 2009 4:56:25 AM

der WandersmannderWandersmann # Saturday, October 17, 2009 5:15:19 AM

Another damned fool example of Zero-Tolerance. The woman had complied with all rules, but she was an addict, so take the baby away.

KittyliciousZaphira # Saturday, October 17, 2009 5:52:32 AM

@ Carol ~ Yes, I know.

@ dW ~ You said it. But even if she should have the child removed, such a message shouldn't be given in a text message on the phone, in my opinion anyway.

Dacotah # Saturday, October 17, 2009 6:00:02 AM

Do you know if she tested positive for drugs during her pregnancy?

KittyliciousZaphira # Saturday, October 17, 2009 6:20:22 AM

No I do not know that. My guess is no, since she was willing to take the tests.

Diabolical # Saturday, October 17, 2009 6:37:31 AM

Aah.. Our wonderful society..
Next you'll have doctors telling you that you only have 6 months left to live plus you'll get monthly sms-updates.

der WandersmannderWandersmann # Saturday, October 17, 2009 6:38:08 AM

LOLOLOL

Moesring # Saturday, October 17, 2009 7:21:11 AM

Seems incredibly familiar.
There was a similar story here a few years ago (I think). As I remember, the mother in my story had tried to commit suicide when she was younger. She got the help she needed, and went on to live a relatively normal life - never once trying anything so drastic again. You might think that should have been the end of it - but unfortunately, it wasn't.

When she gave birth some ten or fifteen years later (maybe even longer), the baby was taken away the moment it was born - that isolated attempt at suicide from so long ago being cited as proof that she was an unfit parent.

Unlike the story above though, there was no warning in advance - it happened out of the blue, as it were.

I'll see if I can find the original article so I can give you the unequivocal facts - instead of my (possibly faulty) recollections. I remember there being quite a scandal, so it shouldn't be too hard to dredge up.

Dark FurieFurie # Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:08:43 AM

That's bloody disgusting.

Spaggyj # Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:09:42 AM

I agree - texts are not an acceptable method of bearing bad news

Dacotah # Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:27:38 AM

That's my guess too so I don't understand why they decided to take the baby.

Dark FurieFurie # Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:38:58 AM

I can't find more details on this. Seems like you and the CP are the only ones who've put it up. I'd say there's got to be more to the story about why her baby is being taken. Whatever, the method of delivering the news is disgusting.

r♡serose-marie # Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:04:20 AM

If the caseworker was too afraid to deliver the news personally, perhaps he/she should find another job...

Although I did laugh when I saw that thing where a girl was fired on facebook, this is a completely different thing.

KittyliciousZaphira # Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:51:12 AM

@ Cois ~ Exactly. I just heard a newsclip about this, and her lawyer said the same thing you just did. She just said it like: "Congratulations, you've got cancer. You're dead in two weeks."

@ Moe ~ That's even worse. I mean, for heaven's sake, give people a chance to defend themselves before you execute them!

@ Mik ~ I found another clip that says that the child is being taken because the mum is a ex-drug addict. She is not taking something to keep clean, and she is in a proces of withdrawing from them now, which is why she has been saying yes to all the tests she has been asked to take.

@ Kimmie ~ You're right. And my point about this is more the way the message is delivered than the removal of the child itself.

@ Carol ~ See my comment to Mik.

@ Rose ~ I couldn't agree more. But the caseworker used as an excuse that he/she hadn't been able to reach the woman via phone or mail. But why the hell didn't she write in the sms: "I've been trying to reach you - please call me on number..." ???

Dark FurieFurie # Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:39:30 PM

If she's withdrawing now then she must've still been on when the child was conceived. Which means there's a good chance the child has a good chance of being addicted from birth.

Angelikiellinidata # Saturday, October 17, 2009 1:45:08 PM

I feel sorry and sad... especially when kids are involved

KittyliciousZaphira # Saturday, October 17, 2009 2:21:21 PM

I agree that if she's on something and can't take care of her child, then it should be removed, so it can be taken care of. But that's not my point - the point is that sending a text message about it is ridiculous!

Bud McDonnellfammcdon # Saturday, October 17, 2009 2:32:29 PM

I agree that the sent txt msg should have been along the lines of I've been trying to contact you. Call or text me @....

der WandersmannderWandersmann # Saturday, October 17, 2009 3:41:02 PM

Tear up the paving stones! Load the muskets!

Mad Scientistqlue # Saturday, October 17, 2009 7:48:09 PM

Some people are just too insensitive to be social workers!

moiraMoirahall # Saturday, October 17, 2009 9:00:30 PM

Text messages in my view are a cowards way out -a quick exit.

I have been told about deaths via text and was gutted getting informed in such a callous way.

Too easy to text , then no personal touches like tone of voice, or discussion are used.

not a nice way to communicate serious things such as this pregnant lady`s issue.

Cleanclean # Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:03:55 PM

I wonder if the social worker could be fired over it via SMS ...

moiraMoirahall # Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:09:58 PM

The social worker could face disciplinary action, but only if the mother filed a complaint using the complaints procedure or a grievance. If the mother just accepts it - then no action could be taken.

Well that would be the scenario here in Scotland.

We have different laws though. Mainly Scottish Law, which is complex.

der WandersmannderWandersmann # Sunday, October 18, 2009 1:42:32 AM

Well, speaking of Scottish Law, may I ask your opinion or position on the recent dustup over the Compassionate Release of the Lockerbie bomber? Before you answer, to avoid putting you on the spot, I felt that the conclusion of Mr. McAskill was well-reasoned, and proper.

What the Libyan government and citizens did afterward was a betrayal, if anything, but has no effect upon the correctness of the decision. One can only control oneself.

KittyliciousZaphira # Sunday, October 18, 2009 4:42:43 AM

I just read that the social worker got a warning and is be told to follow standard procedures in future.

moiraMoirahall # Sunday, October 18, 2009 5:56:37 AM

Der - I have no comments or opinions what so ever in regard to that. Sorry :-(

der WandersmannderWandersmann # Sunday, October 18, 2009 7:21:04 AM

Quite alright.