Dr.Deepak
09-30-2009, 06:00 PM
A HOMEOPATH has been sentenced to at least six years in jail and his wife will serve at least four years for the manslaughter of their eczema-stricken daughter.
Thomas Sam, 42, and his wife Manju, 37, were convicted in June of the manslaughter of their nine-month-old baby Gloria by failing to seek proper medical treatment.
The tertiary-educated couple were accused of "gross criminal negligence" by failing to get the treatment, instead mainly relying on homeopathic remedies.
The baby was malnourished despite being properly fed, because all nutrition had gone into coping with her severe eczema.
She died in Sydney in May 2002 from an infection her body could not fight.
In handing down his sentence in the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Peter Johnson said Thomas Sam's "arrogant approach" to his preference for homeopathy above conventional medicine, and Manju Sam's deference to her husband, had led to Gloria's death.
A "very wide chasm" lay between how they had acted and how any other reasonable parent would have acted, Justice Johnson said.
"The omission of the parents to seek proper assistance for her can be characterised accurately as cruelty," he said.
"Gloria was totally dependent on her parents complying with their clear duty of care for her and each offender fell profoundly short of their parental obligations to their daughter."
Despite recommendations as early as October 2001, the Sams had refused to take her to see a specialist.
Instead they took her to India for more homeopathic treatment, despite being told by doctors that to do so would be "cruel" to Gloria.
And following their return to Australia - on board a plane where fellow passengers described the child as "screaming constantly" and "inconsolable" - for nine "critical" days, the pair did nothing.
On the ninth day, concerned about a lingering eye infection, the Sams took their daughter to the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick.
Doctors described Gloria as "incredibly sick" with a "massive eroded rash" and "grossly malnourished".
They gave her morphine for the pain and began treating her eye infection - her corneas were melting.
But it was too late - Gloria died three days later.
Doctors said she had been malnourished for months and in severe pain for weeks.
"Gloria's body was worn down and ultimately worn out," the judge said.
"This is not a case of a hidden condition going untreated and ultimately causing death.
"Rather this case involves an accumulation of obvious health problems which, whilst not properly treated, saw the child descending towards death."
Thomas Sam faces a maximum jail term of eight years, while his wife faces a maximum sentence of five years and four months.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,26137749-948,00.html
Thomas Sam, 42, and his wife Manju, 37, were convicted in June of the manslaughter of their nine-month-old baby Gloria by failing to seek proper medical treatment.
The tertiary-educated couple were accused of "gross criminal negligence" by failing to get the treatment, instead mainly relying on homeopathic remedies.
The baby was malnourished despite being properly fed, because all nutrition had gone into coping with her severe eczema.
She died in Sydney in May 2002 from an infection her body could not fight.
In handing down his sentence in the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Peter Johnson said Thomas Sam's "arrogant approach" to his preference for homeopathy above conventional medicine, and Manju Sam's deference to her husband, had led to Gloria's death.
A "very wide chasm" lay between how they had acted and how any other reasonable parent would have acted, Justice Johnson said.
"The omission of the parents to seek proper assistance for her can be characterised accurately as cruelty," he said.
"Gloria was totally dependent on her parents complying with their clear duty of care for her and each offender fell profoundly short of their parental obligations to their daughter."
Despite recommendations as early as October 2001, the Sams had refused to take her to see a specialist.
Instead they took her to India for more homeopathic treatment, despite being told by doctors that to do so would be "cruel" to Gloria.
And following their return to Australia - on board a plane where fellow passengers described the child as "screaming constantly" and "inconsolable" - for nine "critical" days, the pair did nothing.
On the ninth day, concerned about a lingering eye infection, the Sams took their daughter to the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick.
Doctors described Gloria as "incredibly sick" with a "massive eroded rash" and "grossly malnourished".
They gave her morphine for the pain and began treating her eye infection - her corneas were melting.
But it was too late - Gloria died three days later.
Doctors said she had been malnourished for months and in severe pain for weeks.
"Gloria's body was worn down and ultimately worn out," the judge said.
"This is not a case of a hidden condition going untreated and ultimately causing death.
"Rather this case involves an accumulation of obvious health problems which, whilst not properly treated, saw the child descending towards death."
Thomas Sam faces a maximum jail term of eight years, while his wife faces a maximum sentence of five years and four months.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,26137749-948,00.html