Swedish parents' baby taken away after disputed medical investigation

A Swedish mother's baby was taken from her by social services and police, an ordeal that lasted a year before the decision was overturned. Maria Moraes and Emelie Allouche, mothers who gave birth around the same time, connected over their experiences with child welfare services.

Moraes's son, nicknamed Bumma-Bimma by his parents, was taken by a social worker accompanied by six police officers. The child's parents were concerned about his allergies and skin rashes. A doctor at a child health center noted a swelling on his head and suspected bruises, prompting a referral to the children's hospital.

At the hospital, the boy was admitted with his parents. While skull X-rays were normal, fractures were found in his wrist and knee. This led to a child welfare report and a police investigation into the parents for alleged assault. The family was separated from their son for four days before he was released from the hospital, only to be met by social services at their home.

The Socialstyrelsen's legal council eventually found the medical reasons for the child's removal insufficient, and the social services committee revoked the decision. Allouche, who had been on parental leave, described the year of separation as a nightmare, with supervised visits taking place in libraries and parks.