Mother Charged With Injecting Fecal Matter Into 9-Year-Old Son's IV Line

A 39-year-old mom has been charged with injecting fecal matter into her 9-year-old son while he was undergoing treatment at an Australian hospital. She denies the charge.

During a trial on Monday in Sydney, the court was told how the mother appeared upset and “appropriately concerned” when told about the presence of e-coli bacteria in the child's blood.

The much-delayed trial in connection with the incident, which happened in September 2014, began last week at Downing Centre District Court, 7 News reported.

Witness Lindie Brown, a nurse at the hosptial, told the court the boy became “very unwell” during one of her shifts. His temperature climbed to 104 F (40 C) and he experienced rigors. He also complained of pains in his back, stomach and head, and requested medicine for the pain, Brown told the court. She added that the boy asked his mother why she was doing this to him.

"He then said words to the effect of 'you could have put something in my cannula when I was asleep,'” Brown told the court.

After the boy repeated the question the next day, the nurse emailed child protective services. Another nurse, Kristina White, said the same thing to the court.

However, defense barrister Pauline David argued that the blood results indicating the presence of e-coli were more likely a result of accidental contamination than deliberate poisoning. David also questioned the hospital staff why expert opinions weren’t obtained.

The court was told that the mother then inquired about the results of the subsequent blood culture, which came back negative for bacteria.

However, Grace Wong, a pediatrician in the hospital’s child protective unit, said the advice of a microbiologist was not required on the matter.

“I did not feel it was clinically warranted at the time and I remain of that opinion,” Wong told the court. “My opinion at the time ... it was very unlikely to be a contaminant.”

Though the site of the boy’s cannula was “not in good order” and the cannula had experienced blockages, it was unlikely he could have obtained a blood infection in this manner, she told the court.

However, a video of a police interview with the boy shown in the court saw him deny that his mother poisoned him or ever manipulated the IV line. The boy said his brain goes all weird” when he is ill and “I just say random stuff”.

The judge-only trial continues.