839. Terre des hommes

Nothing much is known about this organization in Denmark beside the fact that the Danish department was result of the work of a certain Tytte Botfeldt who is now deceased and their close work with the couple Lise and Ole Brems. The family who was living in the village of Klarup and was consisting of a doctor and a nurse took a lot of foster kids in. Some of the foster children died but the doctor issued death certificates despite the fact, that he was close to them. At that time it was legal and the law has due to this case been changed so no doctor with close ties to the deceased can issue death certificates.

In the end the authorities started an investigation against the foster parents and the doctor was convicted to two years in prison and he was allowed to keep his medical license to work as a doctor once the time was served. The wife was convicted to 4 years in prison and lost her license permanently. Why the difference? Why was he allowed to work when he provided medication and falsified the death certificates, remains a mystery.

Today this case involving the Terre des hommes organization in Denmark has largely been forgotten but it is certain that it could not have been fun to be a foster child in the Brems family.

Sources:

• Det respektable lægeægtepar (Book in Danish language)
• Helvedet i Klarup (Blog by Hans Hüttel in Danish language)
• De tyske mulatbørns danske historie (Kristlig Dagblad – in Danish language)

Further information about the Danish department of Terre Des Hommes. In 1999 an investigation was launch into falsified medication documentation about children adopted from Romania. Danish parents believed that the children was healthy but serious illnesses were hidden from them by the organization. As result the Danish department no longer arrange adoptions.

Source:

• Aktører i Danmark (Adoptionpolitisk Forum)