April 20th 2024.
Tragically, on July 8th, 2020, 22-year-old Fern Foster passed away. Her death was caused by suicide, and, as revealed in an inquest, the reason behind her tragic decision was heart-wrenching. It was discovered that Fern, who was on the autism spectrum, took her own life after learning that her six-month-old baby might be put up for adoption.
Fern's baby had been placed in foster care a month after her birth in January 2020. This was due to the lack of support that Fern's family believed she was entitled to. The inquest revealed that the absence of a consistent and independent advocate played a significant role in Fern's decision to end her life. Fern, who was from Monks Risborough, Bucks, had been diagnosed with autism when she was 15 and had struggled to receive the support she needed. She often resorted to self-harm as a way of expressing her distress.
Fern's world changed when she found out she was pregnant on July 25th, 2019. Shortly after, Buckinghamshire Children's Services became involved. The news of her pregnancy brought Fern immense joy and gave her a newfound hope in life. During her pregnancy and up until the point of her child being taken away, Fern did not engage in any self-harming behavior that could endanger herself or her baby. However, things took a turn for the worse when Fern's child was removed from her care. The court heard that Fern described the process leading up to this as a "runaway train."
The Senior Coroner for Bucks, Crispin Butler, gave a narrative conclusion, ruling Fern's cause of death as suicide. He acknowledged that the lack of an independent advocate and the way in which the news of her child's potential adoption was communicated to her contributed significantly to her decision to take her own life. Fern had made it known that she would take her own life if her child was adopted, and the court learned that the way in which this information was delivered to her was a significant trigger for her.
Fern's family lawyer, Rowan, commented on the verdict, stating that they were pleased that the lack of advocacy and the inappropriate communication of the adoption plans were recognized as the causes of Fern's death. She added that it was tragic that there was never a clear plan in place to support Fern as a mother and ensure her safety. These crucial factors were repeatedly ignored, ultimately pushing Fern to her breaking point. Rowan emphasized that this was not how a vulnerable, disabled, first-time mother should have been treated.
Caleb Bawdon, a solicitor representing Fern's family, also shared their sentiments, stating that they welcomed the coroner's conclusion, which acknowledged that Fern was badly let down before her death. He added that it had been almost four years since Fern's passing, and her family had been clear from the beginning about the impact that access to independent advocacy would have made. Bawdon praised the strength and courage of Fern's family and thanked the coroner for his thorough investigation.
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