The Future is Now

In our last post but one (we're trying to revive the word "fortnight" as well), we commented on Silky Pony's proposal regarding universal, mandatory health care, complete with State-coerced mental examinations.

This story from the Daily Telegraph will put your mind at ease:

A pregnant woman has been told that her baby will be taken from her at birth because she is deemed capable of "emotional abuse", even though psychiatrists treating her say there is no evidence to suggest that she will harm her child in any way.

Social services' recommendation that the baby should be taken from Fran Lyon, a 22-year-old charity worker who has five A-levels and a degree in neuroscience, was based in part on a letter from a paediatrician she has never met.

Hexham children's services, part of Northumberland County Council, said the decision had been made because Miss Lyon was likely to suffer from Munchausen's Syndrome by proxy, a condition unproven by science [but very common in old "Law & Order" reruns --ed. ] in which a mother will make up an illness in her child, or harm it, to draw attention to herself.

Under the plan, a doctor will hand the newborn to a social worker, provided there are no medical complications. Social services' request for an emergency protection order - these are usually granted - will be heard in secret in the family court at Hexham magistrates on the same day.

From then on, anyone discussing the case, including Miss Lyon, will be deemed to be in contempt of the court.

Please keep in mind that our well-intentioned friends in the medical establishment do not confine themselves to treating infectious diseases, but instead treat gun control, for example, as a public health issue.