Mother found guilty in case of fabricated illness
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《英国医生杂志》
Procedures at the United Kingdom's leading children's hospital have been tightened after a mother killed her 9 year old son by spiking his hospital drip feed bottles with salt despite 24 hour nursing surveillance.
Petrina Stocker, aged 42, was sentenced to five years in prison last week for the manslaughter of her son David at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, in what the court was told was a case of fabricated or induced illness, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Ms Stocker had been suspected earlier of tampering with David's urine and vomit samples in a bid to draw attention to herself. Despite the surveillance, she was able to put 18 teaspoons of salt into two feed bottles stored in the ward kitchen in August 2001.
David had been admitted to the Great Ormond Street Hospital and to Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex, several times with a debilitating illness that doctors could not diagnose.
The hospital planned to move him to a psychiatric ward where access to his mother would be more restricted. It is thought that spiking his feed was an attempt by Ms Stocker to stop the move.
Judge Gerald Gordon said that he had been told that Ms Stocker was not mentally ill but had a behavioural disorder that "I suspect would come as a surprise to most laymen."
Ms Stocker had a history of fabricating her own illnesses. She had tampered with a urine sample, claiming to be diabetic, and had falsely pretended to be infertile. In 1983 she had poured acid over her arms and face and claimed to have leukaemia.
All the agencies involved have admitted mistakes in their handling of the case, and new measures have been introduced at the hospital to protect children in future. Jane Collins, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said, "With hindsight, there were things we should have done differently. We have worked hard with all other agencies in London to try to stop this ever happening again.
Petrina Stocker had a history of fabricating her own illnesses
Credit: JOHNNY GREEN/PA/EMPICS
"In both David's admissions, concerns were raised by staff that some or all of David's symptoms were fabricated or induced illness. David was placed under 24 hour supervision by nursing staff on both admissions to the hospital, and indeed in the first admission this improved his health.
"Since David's death we have conducted a searching internal review, which drew on external experts. We have cooperated with the police and with all the agency investigations designed to draw out the lessons of the case.
"Thirty four recommendations were made and have now been implemented. Feeds are now in tamper proof bottles and are stored in a locked fridge."
Dr Harvey Marcovitch, spokesman for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said, "The case demonstrates that Munchausen syndrome still exists in adults, that fabricated and induced illness in children exists, and that we shouldn't be misled by reports that these conditions don't exist."(Clare Dyer, legal correspondent)
Petrina Stocker, aged 42, was sentenced to five years in prison last week for the manslaughter of her son David at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, in what the court was told was a case of fabricated or induced illness, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Ms Stocker had been suspected earlier of tampering with David's urine and vomit samples in a bid to draw attention to herself. Despite the surveillance, she was able to put 18 teaspoons of salt into two feed bottles stored in the ward kitchen in August 2001.
David had been admitted to the Great Ormond Street Hospital and to Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex, several times with a debilitating illness that doctors could not diagnose.
The hospital planned to move him to a psychiatric ward where access to his mother would be more restricted. It is thought that spiking his feed was an attempt by Ms Stocker to stop the move.
Judge Gerald Gordon said that he had been told that Ms Stocker was not mentally ill but had a behavioural disorder that "I suspect would come as a surprise to most laymen."
Ms Stocker had a history of fabricating her own illnesses. She had tampered with a urine sample, claiming to be diabetic, and had falsely pretended to be infertile. In 1983 she had poured acid over her arms and face and claimed to have leukaemia.
All the agencies involved have admitted mistakes in their handling of the case, and new measures have been introduced at the hospital to protect children in future. Jane Collins, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said, "With hindsight, there were things we should have done differently. We have worked hard with all other agencies in London to try to stop this ever happening again.
Petrina Stocker had a history of fabricating her own illnesses
Credit: JOHNNY GREEN/PA/EMPICS
"In both David's admissions, concerns were raised by staff that some or all of David's symptoms were fabricated or induced illness. David was placed under 24 hour supervision by nursing staff on both admissions to the hospital, and indeed in the first admission this improved his health.
"Since David's death we have conducted a searching internal review, which drew on external experts. We have cooperated with the police and with all the agency investigations designed to draw out the lessons of the case.
"Thirty four recommendations were made and have now been implemented. Feeds are now in tamper proof bottles and are stored in a locked fridge."
Dr Harvey Marcovitch, spokesman for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said, "The case demonstrates that Munchausen syndrome still exists in adults, that fabricated and induced illness in children exists, and that we shouldn't be misled by reports that these conditions don't exist."(Clare Dyer, legal correspondent)