An Aussie judge has come under fire after he legally restricted a young mother from breastfeeding her baby all because of tattoos.
A judge from the federal circuit court, Matthew Myers, has come to the limelight based on his decision to prohibit a 20-year-old new mom form breastfeeding her 11-month-old baby after she obtained tattoos on her toes and fingers.
According to the court ruling, Ms. Jackson (not her real name for privacy) exposed her baby to risk of HIV transmission. The mom had already undergone a screening and tested negative. Even then, since it's barely three months since she had her tattoo-she was inked during the early weeks of May-the risk is still high. She didn't inform the tattoo artist that she was breastfeeding.
The woman is also in the middle of a bitter fight with her former partner, Mr. Macek, who has since kept the custody of the baby, along with his mother. Macek further accused the mother as a drug abuser. Ms. Jackson tried to petition the family court to return the baby to her.
Myers sided with the mother and ordered Mr. Macek to turn the baby over to her while granting visitation rights on the father. But she was not allowed to breastfeed.
Advocates for breastfeeding are now up in arms against the judge and the ruling, believing that this may only become precedence-that is, more women may be banned from breastfeeding their baby due to believed exposure to certain risks.
Nevertheless, the judge stresses that he based his decision on the advice of Australian Breastfeeding Association, who mentioned that infection that causes HIV or hepatitis can be transmitted via the breast milk. Meanwhile, studies have shown that dirty tattoo equipment such as needles is one of the leading causes of HIV spread.
Aside from the legal ban, the mom is also advised to receive a mental treatment program for her post-natal depression. She and her former partner should also not use any illegal drug at least 48 hours before they take care of their son.
