Amy Dale
A COUPLE was worried their disabled toddler was interfering with their “idyllic” lifestyle and investigated the possibility of euthanasing her shortly before the girl drowned in a backyard pool, a court was told yesterday.
An inquest at Glebe Coroner’s Court is investigating whether the two-year-old’s drowning in a pool at her Northern Beaches home was the result of a “deliberate act” or a tragic accident.
The inquest heard the girl’s parents, who cannot be named, described themselves to social workers as “happy and beautiful people” living an “idyllic” lifestyle. But they were also so distressed by their daughter’s disability – a neuro-developmental condition called Rett syndrome – they asked health specialists whether euthanasia was “legally possible”.
As they explored the possibility of foster care arrangements, admitting the girl’s condition was “dragging us down”, the toddler drowned.
The girl was discovered face down in the inflatable pool on December 3, 2007 – just months after doctors diagnosed her with the incurable condition.
Rett syndrome is suffered almost exclusively by girls and its early symptoms include a regression in speech skills and repetitive hand movements.
Ultimately the girl would have been severely disabled and the inquest heard her parents pleaded with DOCS and health clinics to place her in foster care. The court heard her father asked, “Why do they keep children with these disabilities alive?”
Counsel assisting the coroner, Sergeant Stephen Kelly, said it was possible the little girl had been “immersed in water” for up to 20 minutes.The inquest heard that although the mother was a swimming instructor, she did not perform CPR.
Sgt Kelly said the coroner would have to decide if the girl’s death was “by accidental drowning or deliberate act”.
“And if it was a deliberate act, did that arise because of the threats that had been made by the parents leading up to the death that [she] would be better off dead than alive with Rett syndrome?” he asked.
“Complications with their daughter was something they did not want.”
Source: www. heraldsun.com.au
