Controversy over media whitewash for adoption programme

26 Jul 2007

A new documentary series is to be shown on TV to encourage more families to adopt unwanted children in the UK but it is also shedding light on a controversial practice by social services.

The BBC series entitled Family Wanted and detailing the UK adoption process has been criticised for one episode which shows a baby being taken from an 18-year-old mum with an IQ of 63 who was deemed not mentally capable of parenthood by social services.

A High Court judge has banned the show from airing because it would invade the woman's privacy.

"In my opinion, T [the mother] is less able than the large majority of people to cope with the consequences of traumatic events, and exposure to any form of trauma, including that of the documentary being shown, is likely to provoke emotional and self-harming behaviours similar to those she typically exhibits at such times," said Mr Justice Eady.

However some critics say the women is being prevented from telling her side of the story and showing her "tearful and distressing" forced goodbye to her child who has since been adopted.

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