Human Rights A Day

The Supreme Court of Canada refuses to force treatment on glue-sniffing pregnant woman. “Ms. G” was so addicted to glue sniffing that she was deemed unable to care for her children. All three of them were taken into custody by Winnipeg Child and Family Services and two were permanently disabled due to her addiction. In August 1996, while five months pregnant with her fourth child, a Manitoba judge ordered Ms. G placed in the custody of the director of the Manitoba Child and Family Services, where she was put into a hospital. Two days later the judge’s order was overturned, yet the mother stayed in the hospital until discharged and stayed clean until the birth of her child, which she was allowed to raise. While previously the Supreme Court of Canada said an unborn child does not have legal rights, could they consider placing the mother into custody in order to protect the health of the child? In a seven-to-two decision, the Supreme Court of Canada decided they could not. Numerous organizations were granted lea