So they tested the kid's bowel movements for drugs and reported the parent for drugs they themselves gave. On the surface, it seems like a "right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing" but such things always going to happen when a system is used for both care and enforcement.
And as the article mentions, the outlawing of abortion in some states has accelerated these problems.
If you sued for mental damage the state for such a thing, would you be able to win?
It says a child was taken from the mum for 5 months, that's an impossible damage, literally to get back to something similar you need another child + 9 months + all the costs associated to having 2 children (and career progression loss).
I feel like most such suits would crash on the shores of immunity doctrines and balancing tests. It's absolutely life-altering and probably lifelong - I don't see any way that such a child wouldn't develop attachment/trust disorders. But any judges who assign responsibility to transparently will be denounced as 'judicial activists'.
Classic "not my problem" case in health care. Clinician 1 gives a typical medication to patient, then their shift ends and they go home. Hours or days later, clinician 2 administers a drug test as part of standard process, then their shift ends and they go home. Clinician 3 then reviews this positive test result and reports it to authorities as part of a mandatory reporting program. Nobody acts as a patient advocate and reviews the full case file. Everyone just does their one transactional piece and forgets the entire history ten seconds later in favor of doing another transactional thing for another patient.
It feels like today, mothers face increasing danger going into hospitals. The medical professionals have so much power and control over you when you're there, and one mistake can kill you or ruin your life. There really needs to be greater patient protections.
A case study in the banality of evil sadly. Also a perfect example of why care and enforcemrnt should never be mixed, both for its immediate effects and the lasting distrust it will eventually cause.
The state government has too much power to define what a mother can or can't do. It doesn't deserve such power. Using it correctly or not is a whole other consideration.
Readit News
And as the article mentions, the outlawing of abortion in some states has accelerated these problems.
It says a child was taken from the mum for 5 months, that's an impossible damage, literally to get back to something similar you need another child + 9 months + all the costs associated to having 2 children (and career progression loss).
Classic "not my problem" case in health care. Clinician 1 gives a typical medication to patient, then their shift ends and they go home. Hours or days later, clinician 2 administers a drug test as part of standard process, then their shift ends and they go home. Clinician 3 then reviews this positive test result and reports it to authorities as part of a mandatory reporting program. Nobody acts as a patient advocate and reviews the full case file. Everyone just does their one transactional piece and forgets the entire history ten seconds later in favor of doing another transactional thing for another patient.