Year: 1998
Type: article
Abstract: The facts of this case present us with a tragic, but all too familiar, story. 1 As proceedings began, Ms. G ., a twenty-two year old Aboriginal woman, was pregnant with her fourth child.She suffered from a chronic and severe glue-sniffing addiction.Winnipeg Child and Family Services (Northwest Area) (hereinafter referred to as WCFS), had obtained permanent orders of guardianship for Ms. G.'s first three children before they reached two years of age.Two of the children were born with addictions to chemicals and all three were developmentally delayed as a result of Ms. G. 's chemical dependency during her pregnancies.The background to this case reveals the harmful effects of chronic and severe substance abuse, not only on the unborn child, but on Ms. G. as well.In 1990, Ms G., then sixteen years old and pregnant, was deemed to be a "child in need of protection" and was, consequently, placed in a residential youth treatment facility.At that time, she was pregnant with her first child and, even then, had adopted an unstable lifestyle including the abuse of solvents.She was subsequently placed in a residential facility designed to assist young mothers with the care of their infants.At that time, Ms. G. was unable to alter her lifestyle and she continued to suffer from addiction.When visited by social workers, a strong odour of glue pervaded her apartment and Ms. G. displayed the classic signs of impairment.She began to prostitute to support her addiction and, on several occasions, she attempted to take her own life.In May 1996, Ms. G. entered the hospital complaining of difficulty walking, loss of balance, weakness, and nausea -all symptoms of chronic and severe solvent abuse.Ms. G. was admitted to the Chemical Withdrawal Unit.Her diagnosis was: "solvent abuse with cerebellar disease and probable cognitive impairment." 2 Ms. G. was discharged from the hospital on June 6 but was readmitted on June 27.She was suffering a loss of co-ordination brought on by glue sniffing.After this episode, the hospital informed WCFS that Ms. G. was pregnant and that the baby was due in December.
Source: Alberta Law Review
DOI: 10.29173/alr1501
Authors: Bruce P. Elman, Jill Mason
Institution: University of Alberta
Language: English
Subfield: Law
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2407050422