Inclusion BC is calling for an independent inquiry after a decision was made to take a 4 month old Chilliwack girl off of life support.  The parents of Mary Jane Pierce went to BC Supreme Court this week and won a temporary injunction to keep her hooked up to the ventilator.  Mary Jane was born premature at 25 weeks and suffers from numerous medical issues including epilepsy.  She was due to be moved to palliative care this week, but her parents feel they were pressured into signing an interim custody order last week to transfer her to Canuck Place, not understanding that meant she would eventually die.

“This is an extraordinarily hard time for parents,” says Jackie Carpenter, president of Inclusion BC and the parent of a son with a disability. “More than anything, parents need support. They don’t need to be in court, defending their right to parent.”

They claim they were told by the Ministry of Children that because they both have epilepsy, they couldn’t care for their daughter and if they refused to sign the order, then all future children would be taken away from them.

“At five months, Mary Jane has fought hard to survive a premature birth and a serious illness. She’s already beat the odds and her parents remain committed to her right to receive ongoing medical care,” states Faith Bodnar, Inclusion BC’s Executive Director. With respect to the pressure to sign the interim custody order, Bodnar added, “It is unconscionable that this family was pressured to sign a custody order that would result in the death of their daughter; the very thing they were fighting to prevent. Quite frankly it is morally corrupt.”