Call for new-born baby to be returned to its parents
A new-born baby taken from its parents at North Shore Hospital two weeks ago by Ōranga Tamariki should be returned to
its parents, says former Human Rights and Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres.
The baby’s sister was last year also taken from her parents, when she was four weeks old, because she was found to have
unexplained rib fractures. The fractures were already healing when they were discovered by chance on an x-ray.
Although the older child (now 14 months) has recently been diagnosed as having osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bones,
she remains in foster care. The new baby was taken into custody because Ōranga Tamariki doesn’t consider that brittle
bones explains the earlier fractures and therefore considers him to be at risk of similar harm.
Joris de Bres says he was alarmed by the report of the baby being taken into care because he is himself the parent of
two children with brittle bones and the grandparent of one. “It’s not uncommon for injuries due to brittle bones being
confused with child abuse – many OI parents, including ourselves, have had that experience before our children were
diagnosed.”
He has met with the family and read the reports relating to the taking of the two babies. “I believe a terrible wrong
has been done to the parents as well as to the children due to ignorance about osteogenesis imperfecta. They should be
restored to each other.”
He has today written to the Chief Executive of Ōranga Tamariki, Gráinne Moss, seeking her urgent review of the matter.
The family has started a GiveaLittle page to fund legal costs to have the matter reconsidered by the Family Court:
ENDS