CCS says 2 crimes were committed in death of baby

MEDIA RELEASE
18 November 2004

CCS says two crimes were committed in death of baby

CCS, one of New Zealand’s leading providers of support and services to people with disabilities, says two crimes were committed surrounding the death of the Nelson baby.

“There were two crimes committed that day. The first was the way the family was treated by the hospital; the second was the tragedy of a baby being killed. We seem to have lost focus that a disabled child’s life is as significant as a non disabled child’s,” said CCS CEO, Viv Maidaborn, “ The life of a disabled child is equally as valuable as any other child’s, and they should expect to receive equal protection from our justice system.”

CCS feels that the medical profession needs to take a certain responsibility when relaying sensitive or distressing information to family and whanau. The organisation also emphasises it has witnessed many cases where parents of disabled children have been given medical expectations and the predicted outcomes have not occurred. These children and adults have gone on to live valuable lives as active participants in society.

CCS believes this may be a wake up call for government to re-evaluate the Early Intervention programmes available in certain areas of New Zealand and is concerned about the lack of support available to many families and whanau of those with disabilities.

“We can all connect with the parents that day but just for a moment I think we need to connect with the baby,” said Viv Maidaborn, CEO of CCS.

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