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Bracelet could help understanding on fetal alcohol behaviour

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 13 Apr 2018, 8:21AM
Each year about 6000 babies are born with FASD and 600 have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (Photo / Thinkstock)

Bracelet could help understanding on fetal alcohol behaviour

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 13 Apr 2018, 8:21AM

A University of Otago lecturer is calling for more awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

About five percent of New Zealanders suffer from the disorder including Teina Pora who was wrongly convicted of sexual assault and murder of Susan Burdett in 1992.

He spent 21 years in prison before he was released.

Associate Professor Anita Gibbs says medical alert bracelets would show police and social workers that the person has a disorder.

"And actually treat them differently than just assuming that the behaviour that they are expressing, which often looks antisocial, is actually a function of their neuro-disability."

Gibbs says the disorder results in productivity losses up to an estimated 200 million dollars.

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANITA GIBBS SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

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