Child protection service backs off plan to take Žlabių family’s children

Lithuanian State Child Protection and Adoption Service (VVTAĮT) had decided to remove all children from the Žlabių family in the Ukmergė district after a newborn with Patau syndrome died in Kaunas Hospital. On Saturday, officials Lina Baranauskienė, head of the Vilnius County child‑protection department, and a colleague visited the family’s home. According to the family’s legal representative, Dalia Jasevičienė, an agreement was reached that the children will not be taken. Documents stating that, under the current circumstances, no children will be removed are to be prepared on Monday. The agency later acknowledged that it had made the removal decision before learning of the infant’s death and had not been informed by the hospital about the tragedy. No court petition for a removal order has been filed yet.