This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/01/mp-queries-forced-caesarean-section

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
MP queries 'forced' caesarean section MP queries 'forced' caesarean section
(35 minutes later)
An MP is to take up the case of a pregnant Italian woman whose baby was reportedly forcibly removed by caesarean section in Britain by order of social workers.An MP is to take up the case of a pregnant Italian woman whose baby was reportedly forcibly removed by caesarean section in Britain by order of social workers.
Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming said on Sunday that he would raise the case in parliament after speaking to the woman involved. The Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming said on Sunday that he would raise the case in parliament after speaking to the woman involved.
According to a report in the Sunday Telegraph, Essex social services obtained a high court order against the woman that allowed her to be forcibly sedated and her child to be taken from her womb.According to a report in the Sunday Telegraph, Essex social services obtained a high court order against the woman that allowed her to be forcibly sedated and her child to be taken from her womb.
The council said it was acting in the best interests of the woman, who was in Britain for work reasons, because she had suffered a breakdown, according to the newspaper.The council said it was acting in the best interests of the woman, who was in Britain for work reasons, because she had suffered a breakdown, according to the newspaper.
The baby girl, now 15 months old, is still in the care of social services, who are refusing to return her to the mother, even though she claims to have made a full recovery, it added. It said the baby girl, now 15 months old, was still in the care of social services, who were refusing to return her to the mother even though she claimed to have made a full recovery.
Lawyers for the woman told the newspaper that the council should have consulted the woman's family beforehand and also involved Italian social services.Lawyers for the woman told the newspaper that the council should have consulted the woman's family beforehand and also involved Italian social services.
Hemming said: "I intend to raise this in parliament. I need to speak to the lady tomorrow evening to find out how she wishes to proceed. Hemming said: "I intend to raise this in parliament. I need to speak to the lady tomorrow evening to find out how she wishes to proceed. I can't work out why they didn't send her back to Italy. Being in a psychiatric institution when you are without your medication in a foreign country is not a good experience to go through.
"I can't work out why they didn't send her back to Italy. Being in a psychiatric institution when you are without your medication in a foreign country is not a good experience to go through.
"There are considerable problems in the operation of the family courts. Part of the solution to that is greater public scrutiny, but also we need to make sure there is more independence in the evidence provided by expert witnesses, such as social workers.""There are considerable problems in the operation of the family courts. Part of the solution to that is greater public scrutiny, but also we need to make sure there is more independence in the evidence provided by expert witnesses, such as social workers."
The Sunday Telegraph said the woman came to Britain in July last year to attend a training course with an airline at Stansted airport in Essex. The Sunday Telegraph said the woman came to Britain in July last year to attend a training course with an airline at Stansted airport in Essex. She had a panic attack, which her relations believe was caused by her failure to take regular medication for a bipolar condition. She was taken to a psychiatric facility, and was restrained and sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
She had a panic attack, which her relations believe was caused by her failure to take regular medication for a bipolar condition.
She was taken to a psychiatric facility, and was restrained and sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Meanwhile, social services obtained a high court order for the birth to be enforced by way of caesarean section, the newspaper said.Meanwhile, social services obtained a high court order for the birth to be enforced by way of caesarean section, the newspaper said.
In February, the mother, who had gone back to Italy, returned to Britain to request the return of her daughter, but a judge ruled the child should be placed for adoption because of the risk of the woman suffering a relapse. In February the mother, who had gone back to Italy, returned to Britain to request the return of her daughter, but a judge ruled the child should be placed for adoption because of the risk of the woman suffering a relapse.
A spokesman for Essex county council said: "Essex county council does not comment on the circumstances of ongoing individual cases involving vulnerable people and children." A council spokesman said: "Essex county council does not comment on the circumstances of ongoing individual cases involving vulnerable people and children."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.