[bitomato]

I do think that there is a risk of getting nationalistic and personal when there is no need to be. If anyone wants to disagree with me fine- but I was only drawing a comparison to where hospitals and court systems were in conflict with the parents' right to parent- and make decisions for their child. Quality of life is a complex issue and it is very easy to get emotional and lose sight of the point. The details of the case are not known- I know that it emotionally impacts me because I have bipolar, want children, and feel strongly about mental health rights.

I hear this comment about bipolar and meds ALL the time. People act like they never forget their keys, or to buy milk- or to take meds. Persons take antibiotics feel better and then stop before the course is through- does anyone question their competence? Everyone assumes- ahhhh run for the hills: bipolar crazies gone off their meds!! It doesn't work like that- and it sounds from the fact she impressed the judge- she is high functioning so it is probably worse to be very aware how much you are being screwed over.

I highlighted the link you shared where the judge stated the whole case was handled badly. We are no longer a society that views the mentally ill as invalids. Her extended family (husband's sister?) has petitioned for the child and been denied. Obviously the adoptive family has some clout as well as the social services and I think Cacoethes' experience is evidence that there are alternatives in the UK- but someone did not employ them. Services are probably not the same all over the UK, but if this is not best practice, everything needs to be done for this not to happen again.

As a person with bipolar I do not think that I should be afraid of saying the 'b' word to a non- psychiatric doctor or a police officer- but that is exactly what has been like for me since being diagnosed. I spent a year in the UK as a student become an expert on my rights so this could not happen to me, exactly because I was being victimized. And I still had an advocate- who was surprised at my capability to virtually advocate for myself and see the process through. Several times I was a victim of British citizens and had no protection, and I had the exact same attitude that if I got sick- get me on a plane home! I put a very detailed support network in place because I experienced severe discrimination, but I knew my rights. In the end I left the country very drained but I had achieved my goal of education.

Due to her diagnosis- this woman's battle is more expensive, time sensitive and because she cannot find support and compassion from other members of the mental health community- the mere fact that I feel that I have to defend her right to be a mother on a support thread, for me is really upsetting me- I really keep hoping parliament in Italy and England step in and sanction the first judge and she wins on appeal. I imagine child advocates and social workers seeing this differently- but as I work with children who are the "products" of going into care- I just know it is sooooo important to have a relationship with the mother.

I went by what was reported that the C-section was not a normal order, keeping the child away from the mother not normal, and Cacoethe's personal share that there would have been options if she was not Italian (therefore known to mental health services in the UK before) and possibly a different part of the UK. I had a bipolar classmate at University who felt she was supported because she was British and had transitioned from her mental health input to the one at University. I had my own experience of care in my home country- and the treatment I got in the UK was terrible to the extent that I had to lodge a formal complaint.

There is a need for mental health advocates in court as well as human rights lawyers- it is a fact. This entire situation reinforces the stigma against mental illness, specifically bipolar- and from my personal experience- it perpetuates ignorance. There is nothing worse than having real persecution being masked as "in your best interest". Just because you are paranoid does not mean that people are not out to get you.