An Australian mother who was ordered to stop breastfeeding her baby due to the risk of infection from tattoos by a court has won her appeal against the decision. The 20-year-old mother, who cannot be named, was ordered not to breastfeed her 11-month old son earlier this month by a judge concerned about the risk of him contracting HIV or other diseases from two new tattoos.
But the full bench of the Family Court on June 19 unanimously reversed the decision, ruling that the evidence "was not capable of establishing the risk identified".
The case first came before Judge Mathew Myers on June 3 when the mother complained that the father, from whom she is separated, had failed to return the baby to her care.
At that hearing, the judge raised the fact that the mother was breastfeeding in relation to evidence that she was taking medication for post-natal depression.
She had also used cannabis once in the past two years and had acquired two new tattoos on her foot and finger about a month ago.
In a decision on June 5 Myers said that while the mother had tested negative for HIV and other diseases since getting the tattoos, tests could not be definitive until three months after the needles were used.
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But in its judgment on June 19, the full bench of the Family Court said the case highlighted the need for expert opinion evidence in such instances.
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The judgment said the initial judge had also erred by failing to consider the emotional and physical benefits of continued breastfeeding to the baby and the possible negative side effects of suddenly stopping the practice.
Source-AFP