A drug-addicted mother of four, has been ordered by a New York judge to not get pregnant because of child neglect. The woman, who has worked as a prostitute, was ordered to abstain from pregnancy until she has gained custody of her infant son.
Family Court Judge Patricia Gallaher asserted that the order is meant to promote the woman's chances of being rehabilitated and reunited with her son without having a newer baby that would be a roadblock to that happening. Currently, all of the drug-addicted woman's children are being raised by other people.
The Rochester judge who wrote the order in December, highlighted the findings of neglect against the mother, identified as Brandy F. The mother who has been a prostitute, also admitted to using drugs like crack cocaine and methadone, as well as alcohol while pregnant with her infant son, Fox News reported.
According to Gallaher's order, the infant was born premature in July and reflected symptoms of withdrawal almost immediately after his birth. In 2011 and 2014, two of her previous children were also born addicted to drugs and removed from the mother's care. One of her children, a 16-year-old son has been living with his grandmother since 2007 after having access to a hypodermic needle while being taken care of his mother.
A similar ruling was released in Monroe County in 2004. However, the no-pregnancy provision in the order was eventually removed by an appeals court, which Gallaher referred to as "cutting edge."
The current epidemic of heroin in the community has led to more severe and frequent cases of parental neglect than in years past, making such a provision even more urgent today. "No-pregnancy provision should be ordered like the drug treatment, mental health treatment and parenting classes provisions, which are boilerplate now," Gallaher said.
Tim Donaher, Monroe County Public Defender whose office represents the woman, said Tuesday he is appealing the underlying decision. The New York Civil Liberties Union is also considering assisting with an appeal, the Democrat & Chronicle reported.
