The case of Sean and the right to decide

23/12/2009




The controversy surrounding the case of Sean Goldman sends me to a frequent situation in genetic counseling of couples at risk for having children with genetic diseases: the right to decide. The story of this boy of nine years, the center of a dispute between the American biological father who wants him back and his Brazilian family that wants to keep him here, took international proportions. Already announced economic retaliation of major consequence against Brazil if the Justice Department not to allow the boy back to the parent that spawned it, David Goldman, the United States.

On the one hand it is easy to understand the arguments and the feelings of its American parent. The U.S. and international laws to defend it. Moreover, in Brazil he has a sister, grandparents and an adoptive father who will love it too, because otherwise there would be fighting to keep it so. This is not an easy race, but I would argue tooth and nail that the child should be heard. The most interested party in this case is Sean himself. This is his life. Your feedback is critical. I remembered two stories that may be relevant in this case: the James Bulger's boy and girl Bruna.

James was cruelly mutilated and murdered when he was 2 in 1993 in a small town in England. It was discovered that his killers were two boys aged 10 years, Jon and Robert. Despite her young age, the two were convicted of the murder, was ordered at the time that they would remain trapped for many years. I ask: if the English court, renowned for its high intellectual level, believes that boys of 10 years must be held accountable for their actions, would a 9 year old boy does not have the maturity to decide where and with whom to live? There are at least entitled to be heard? To express your opinion? His will?

Bruna was a Brazilian girl who had been adopted by an Israeli family in 1986, at 4 months old. In 1988, when Bruno had two years since he spoke Hebrew and was fully integrated with foster parents, biological parents decided they wanted it back. They went to Israel with a television crew from Britain. After an exciting contest, with great repercussion in the media, the Israeli Justice ruled that Bruna was returned to her biological parents. His adoptive parents and the whole people cried when they left Israel Bruna. British journalists, elated with his victory, followed his arrival in Brazil. Bruna was greeted with great celebration. But unlike their parents, the media soon forgot about the case. What happened after Bruna? How was your life? An Israeli journalist, Nili Tal, Bruna reunited in 2008, aged 22, and documented its history. A very sad film that can be seen by all.

In short, his father, who will alcoholic, abandoned the family soon returned to Brazil and that the case ceased to interest the press. Bruna has tried to run away from home sixteen times and I only met my father when he was 14. At 13 she became pregnant for the first time and stopped studying. His mother drove him away. At age 20 she moved to her father's house, already with two children in a very poor area. The father beat them and when the documentary was filmed, Bruna had lost custody of children. Asked by a journalist, Bruno said: "Unfortunately I could not choose. If you could, would have stayed in Israel. "

Bruna was only two years, but Sean has 9. He is most interested. This is your life, your future. If the UK court ruled that children of 10 years can be blamed and punished for their actions, does Sean, age 9, is not able to choose? You decide? Regardless of what the law requires, at least he has the right to be heard in Brazil and the United States?
By Mayana Zatz

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