fineleg Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080717/ap_on_re_us/salt_poisoning Woman accused of poisoning son in Pa. hospital A woman poisoned her infant son by repeatedly injecting salt water into his feeding tube at hospitals in Tennessee and Pittsburgh in what she claimed were attempts to hasten the death of a suffering child, authorities said Wednesday. Four-month-old Noah King is in critical condition with sodium poisoning at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and police said they believe the baby's medical problems were caused entirely by his mother. Amber Brewington, 21, was charged with attempted homicide and police said she told investigators she had injected her son with salt water five or six times, and that she had severe postpartum depression. A hospital worker called police late Tuesday after a nurse reported seeing Brewington disconnect the boy's feeding tube. Brewington was carrying a pink camouflage backpack with a container of Morton salt, two bottles filled with salt water and a syringe, police said. Noah had been a patient at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., where he had suffered unexplained seizures and possible brain damage, the mother told police. Vanderbilt hospital spokesman John Howser said Noah was treated there for a documented disease and was transferred to the Pittsburgh hospital due to its expertise in treating the symptoms he was showing. He declined to discuss the boy's care in more detail. Noah arrived at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh on July 9. Upon arrival, he had one of the highest recorded levels of sodium, even for an adult, according to a Pittsburgh police affidavit. Brewington admitted giving Noah another syringe of salt water on Sunday, though she denied she was trying to do it again when she was caught by the nurse Tuesday, police said. Pittsburgh Police Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki, however, said Wednesday: "We believe last night was another attempt to deliver more salt water or sodium to her child." Too much sodium can cause neurological problems and, at its most severe, can cause death. Officials at the Pittsburgh hospital wouldn't discuss specifics of Noah's condition. Investigators believe all Noah King's illnesses were "related to what she's done," Stangrecki said. "But we have to follow up with all the medical facilities that he's been at ... and try to make that determination of whether he was sick as part of an illness or from ingesting sodium." Brewington, of Duck River, Tenn., also was charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child. She was ordered held on $50,000 bail at an arraignment Wednesday. Police didn't whether she had an attorney. The boy's father has been questioned, but is not suspected of wrongdoing and faces no charges, Stangrecki said. Brewington's two other children are being cared for by a relative, said Rob Johnson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. Blame it on post partum depression!? What the hell! Ridiculous :eyedance:
sandtest Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Really universe is inhabited by strange minds. I mean successfully delivering a baby is always a of joy for any mother, how it can become a cause of depression? It's better for such depressed people to commit suicide than using it to justify such heinous acts. She must be sufferring from some mental disorder.
beetle Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 It is an illness and lot of women suffer from this .But such an extreme case is very rare.Such people need medical help and have to be kept away from children. I know of a mother who refused to nurse her child because of this condition.
Guest dada_rocks Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Post-portem depression is real thing for a nuclear family.. In big joint family nobody leaves you alone to think about anything .. U have noticed countries where nuclear family is more in fashion report cases of post-portem-depression related homicide in large numners.........
Lurker Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Amber Brewington, 21, was charged with attempted homicide and police said she told investigators she had injected her son with salt water five or six times, and that she had severe postpartum depression. Post partum depression are very real and most women suffer from it one way or the other. We in India are generally not aware of this much because we have always had Grandparents, Aunts etc to help a woman through. But as modern family shrinks such issues that were hithreto "Western" can be seen in India as well. There can be so many issues. For example early(and unplanned) pregnancy can devastate a girl's life, and hence the depression. Even if it is planned it can have its own complications. I know of atleast 2 cases in my immediate circle where I have seen this. A girl who had always wanted to be a Mom went into severe depression as soon as her child was handed to her, much as she was happy she realized the entire career that she had worked towards was now kinda history. Second girl went into depression because her child wont breastfeed and she took it to heart as if her child was rejecting her. xx
kumble_rocks Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Post partum depression are very real and most women suffer from it one way or the other. We in India are generally not aware of this much because we have always had Grandparents, Aunts etc to help a woman through. But as modern family shrinks such issues that were hithreto "Western" can be seen in India as well. There can be so many issues. For example early(and unplanned) pregnancy can devastate a girl's life, and hence the depression. Even if it is planned it can have its own complications. I know of atleast 2 cases in my immediate circle where I have seen this. A girl who had always wanted to be a Mom went into severe depression as soon as her child was handed to her, much as she was happy she realized the entire career that she had worked towards was now kinda history. Second girl went into depression because her child wont breastfeed and she took it to heart as if her child was rejecting her. xx Spot on . I don't know where Finey is coming from , but he is hardly a doctor or psychologist to comment in this matter in such a condescending way. This disease can hit any women whether rich and famous or the poor . I remember Brooke Shields suffering from Post partum depression after her first pregnancy and she did mention that she was suicidal and wanted to harm her child . Remember the flak Tom cruise got for criticizing her because she sought the help of medications...
fineleg Posted July 17, 2008 Author Posted July 17, 2008 KR, You misunderstood. I am not commenting on post partum depression in a wrong way. I am aware it is REAL and I am aware that it has to be something one has to be helped with. I am supportive of help being provided to people experiencing it. What I was condescending about is that this woman tried to KILL her baby!!! That is ridiculous! And saying "post partum depression is my EXCUSE for trying to KILL the baby", sorry that is Extreme! Paging Dhondy
kumble_rocks Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 KR, You misunderstood. I am not commenting on post partum depression in a wrong way. I am aware it is REAL and I am aware that it has to be something one has to be helped with. I am supportive of help being provided to people experiencing it. What I was condescending about is that this woman tried to KILL her baby!!! That is ridiculous! And saying "post partum depression is my EXCUSE for trying to KILL the baby", sorry that is Extreme! Paging Dhondy If you agree that post partum depression is real , then you should also know that women suffering from this disease suffer from Postpartum-onset mood episodes with or without psychotic features. Infanticide is most often associated with postpartum psychotic episodes that are characterized by command hallucinations to kill the infant, but it can also occur in severe postpartum mood episodes without such specific delusions or hallucinations. So , we don't know if this women is faking or not ...
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