Judge: Obese Ottawa Dad Too Fat For Kids
A father residing in Ottawa, recently lost custody of his two children due to obesity.
The judge declared the Ottawa man was too fat to properly care for his children of five and six years old.
The man, 38, who can’t be identified under the Child and Family Services Act is currently in a custody battle with the Royal Ottawa Hospital’s family court clinic.
The clinic can use a parenents obesity as a conbriubting factor in deciding if they are fit to raise children.
After the completion of a health assessment, the doctor declared that the man was not capable of taking care of his children due to his lack of energy, stamina, and mobility.
The medical examination showed the Ottawa father to be short of breath walking short distances.
The man told CBC’s The Current Tuesday that he is still working hard to lose weight and is now 380 pounds.
“I haven’t seen my youngest son since February of last year and I haven’t seen my eldest son since September of last year,” he said.
“I believe the weight was a determining factor in my custody case. They picked the one thing they could use as a quantitative number. I’m a fantastic father, I love my kids wholeheartedly.”
In Ontario, patients have the option of receiving gastric bypass surgery, paid for by the tax payers.
“I wanted to do it on my own so I would respect the weight loss myself,” he said.
Court: Obese Ottawa Dad Is Too Fat To Care For Kids, Loses Custody
He said all he wants to do is take care of his boys.
“I’m a passionate man, I love my kids, just want a single chance to be a father, that’s it,” he told CTV Ottawa.
The Royal Ottawa Hospital can’t comment on the case, but in a statement, they suggested the situation is complicated.
“Every case is unique. Mental and physical issues are examined as well as any special needs of the children,” they said.
The man’s wife died last year.
