Petition to Bring Bennett Home Safely

We, the undersigned, call for urgent action to reunite Bennett, a six-year-old boy from Coquitlam, with his mother and trained care team.

Bennett is a medically fragile and neurodevelopmentally complex child. He depends on a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) for hydration, nutrition, and medication. He also lives with severe bowel issues, Autism Spectrum Disorder with language impairment, ADHD, anxiety, and a rare genetic condition (ANKRD17). His daily stability and safety rely on caregivers who know his scripts, sensory routines, and medical and behavioural needs.

Despite this, Bennett was removed from his family and trusted professional team while in hospital — without adequate notice, without disclosure of clear reasons, and against the documented advice of his medical providers. He was placed in the care of strangers unfamiliar with his protocols.

This action is not only harmful, but dangerous:

1. It contradicts MCFD’s mandate to use the least intrusive measure possible.
2. It disregards the warnings of multiple specialists, who stressed that removing Bennett from his trained team could lead to trauma, regression, and serious medical risks.
3. It denies his rights as a disabled child to continuity of care, dignity, and protection from harm.
4. Bennett is unable to explain what is happening to him. He cannot call for help or advocate for himself. Abrupt separation from his familiar caregivers has left him terrified, confused, and vulnerable to both medical error and psychological harm. No child should be put in this position.

We believe:

1. Families raising medically complex children must be supported, not separated.
2. Children like Bennett deserve stability, compassion, and care rooted in medical expertise and love.
3. Government must be held accountable when its actions place children at risk.

We, the undersigned, therefore petition the Government of British Columbia to:

1. Immediately return Bennett to the care of his mother and his trained Behaviour Intervention team, with appropriate medical oversight in place.
2. Ensure accountability for the decisions that led to his unsafe removal, including a transparent review of how Section 13 was applied in his case.
3. Commit to urgent reform so that no other medically fragile child experiences unnecessary removal from safe family supports.

Bennett’s story is heartbreaking, but it is not unique. Other families in BC have faced similar fear, loss, and harm. We sign this petition in solidarity — for Bennett, for his family, and for every child whose voice cannot yet be heard.

Privacy & Accuracy Reminder
By signing, you confirm that the information you provide is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. This petition will be used for advocacy purposes and may be submitted to elected officials, government ministries, or the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Your voice matters in helping Bennett and other children with complex needs remain safe with the families who love them.