Mum poisoned her own child with paracetamol and codeine in 'terrible betrayal'
14.01.2024 - 13:27
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A mum who overdosed her child on paracetamol and codeine, leaving them needing an urgent life-saving liver transplant, has been jailed. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Birmingham Crown Court heard how the mother, from the West Midlands, 'went to extreme lengths to poison' her child at home and at two separate hospitals – causing severe harm to their liver. When she took her child to see a doctor, however, she tried to hide what she had done, the court heard.
She presented herself as a 'loving and devoted mother', said Crown Prosecution Service chiefs, but what happened amounted to 'a terrible betrayal by a mother'.
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On 9 September 2016, the woman took the child to a walk-in centre, claiming they had a high temperature and were struggling to breathe. When the child’s condition deteriorated, they were taken by ambulance to hospital, where they were admitted as an inpatient.
On 12 September 2016, the child began to lose consciousness, displaying signs of acute liver failure. They were subsequently transferred to another hospital, where they began to respond well to treatment.
However, just four days later, with no warning signs, the child’s condition again started to rapidly deteriorate - something the doctor described as “acute, unexpected, and unusual”. The child subsequently underwent an urgent liver transplant.
An investigation was launched, revealing that the child had dangerously high levels of paracetamol and codeine in their system. But hospital records proved that medical staff had only administered the maximum