A mother filed a complaint against the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ), which had taken her baby from her without properly explaining why.
The child had marks on their body, and believing that mistreatment had occurred, someone alerted the DPJ. Caseworkers left quickly with the baby, only to learn afterwards that the marks were due to a medical condition. The child was not in danger.
After we intervened, the mother was able to talk to a manager of the institution in charge about the distress she had experienced during the event. Even in an emergency, caseworkers must be empathetic and ensure that the parents understand the situation.
To learn more about this real-life case, see our 2021-2022 Annual Report.
The Protecteur du citoyen ensures that your rights are upheld in your dealings with Québec public services. Are you dissatisfied with the services of a Government of Québec department or agency? Or with those of a health and social services network institution (2nd level of recourse)? File a complaint by calling 1-800-463-5070 or using our online complaint form.
