Mother given suspended sentence for giving sons cold medicine to extend hospital stay
Gwangju District Court / Captured from the court's website
A mother in her 30s has been sentenced to probation for child abuse after intentionally giving her two sons cold medicine to prolong their hospital stay, claiming it was easier to care for them there.
On Feb. 27, Judge Kim Sung-joon of the Gwangju District Court’s Criminal Division 11 sentenced the woman, aged 31, to one-year-and-six months in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act and causing bodily harm. The court also ordered her to undergo probation, attend 40 hours of child abuse prevention lectures, and barred her from working at child-related institutions for three years.
The woman was accused of deliberately administering adult cold medicine to her two sons, aged one and three, on nine occasions in a hospital room, between April and September 2023. She also allegedly administered the medication through IV drips, inducing vomiting and subjecting them to physical abuse. Investigations revealed that the woman, who was solely responsible for childcare and household duties, resorted to this method to extend her children’s hospital stay, where meals were provided and nurses assisted with their care.
Judge Kim stated, "Considering the relationship with the victims, their young age, the number of offenses, and the dangers involved, the defendant’s actions carry significant weight." However, he noted that the court took into account her lack of prior offenses, her acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and her commitment to raising her children responsibly when determining the sentence.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.