http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13302670,00.html

A mother who killed her son with a salt overdose because she wanted
attention will be sentenced today.
Petrina Stocker spiked nine-year-old David's hospital drip with 18
teaspoonfuls of salt.


He had been in hospital for months with her at his bedside thwarting
attempts by doctors to find out what was wrong with him.

She became worried staff, who suspected her of tampering with his symptoms,
would soon part her from her son.

She poured the salt into two milk feed bottles hoping that a downturn in his
condition would stop him being moved.

But it went tragically wrong when David, who was very weak, collapsed and
died after being given one with 13 spoonfuls.

Stocker, 42, of Romford, Essex, was found guilty at the Old Bailey yesterday
of David's manslaughter at Great Ormond Street Hospital, central London, in
August 2001.

She was said to be suffering from factitious illness by proxy, a disorder
previously referred to as Munchausen's syndrome by proxy.

She had in the past pretended to be ill and poured acid on herself in order
to get attention.

Health and social services chiefs and police have all admitted mistakes in
their handling of the case.

Great Ormond Street Hospital chief executive Dr Jane Collins said: "Our
surveillance policy can be considered lacking in some ways.

"What we didn't do was to make sure everything going into David, ie. the
feeds, could not be tampered with in any way whatsoever."

A review has been carried out into the case, and it recommended that feeds
must be tamper-proof, fridges must be lockable.

Marilyn Richards, chairman of Havering Area Child Protection Committee,
said: "I would openly acknowledge that we didn't complete an assessment of
David, when we were required to do so."


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