The protection of children's rights as ceremony and myth:: A critique of the review of institutional placements in Quebec and Ontario

The establishment of mechanisms to review the institutional placements of children is important for the protection of clients' rights. This article suggests that formal review processes can become forums or media for conducting ceremonies which establish and perpetuate the myth of justice and appropriate service provision. The reviews of institutional placement in Quebec and Ontario are described. The underlying principle of the processes in both provinces is identified as “escape from conflict.” The article concludes with the suggestion that, in order to be meaningful, a review process must induce the public expression of interprofessional and interorganizational disagreements. It must also address the disparities of power between children/families and professionals in a way that will allow the actual participation of clients in central decision-making processes.