Ruginienė warns Žlabiai children may be taken if family rejects help

Social Security and Labour Minister Inga Ruginienė told ELTA, as reported by LRT, that the children of a family living in Ukmergė district will have to be taken into care if their parents refuse to cooperate with the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service.

“The Child Rights Protection Service is trying to establish contact because there were indications that the family might accept help,” Ruginienė said. She added that the government’s main aim was for the family to receive comprehensive assistance and for the children to grow up in the safest possible environment.

Ruginienė said a decision had already been made that the children should be taken if necessary, but stressed that removing them from the family was not the state’s objective. If the family completely rejected assistance, however, the children’s safety would remain the priority, she said.

The case emerged in late July after it was reported that a baby with Patau syndrome had died at Kaunas Clinics. The State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, which had not yet been informed of the death, had decided to take six children from the family, including the deceased infant.

Kaunas Clinics had notified child rights officials about the baby’s serious condition but had not managed to report the death. Officials later said the baby’s condition was not the only reason for considering the removal of the other children, citing the overall set of circumstances indicating a need to ensure their safety.

It was later agreed that the children would not be taken immediately and that the situation would be reassessed. The deceased baby’s mother was said to have agreed to cooperate with child rights officials. However, the news portal 15min reported this week that the parents had changed their minds and were no longer cooperating with specialists.

Ukmergė District Mayor Darius Varnas told ELTA that the family refused medical services and opposed vaccinations. A pretrial investigation has also been launched by the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office into suspected abuse of parental rights or duties.