Post by Joanna on Nov 26, 2016 3:15:29 GMT -5
Mother Injects Fecal Matter Into Son's IV Line
INDIANAPOLIS – Marion County prosecutors allege a mother injected feces multiple times into her teen son’s IV lines while he was undergoing cancer treatment, reports CBS affiliate WLFI. The boy developed life-threatening blood infections as a result that also delayed his treatment.
Tiffany Alberts, 41, of Wolcott, Ind., a teacher, faces six counts of aggravated battery and one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, all felonies.
A child abuse investigation was launched Nov. 17 at Riley Hospital for Children when medical staff said a 15-year-old boy being treated for leukemia developed several unexplained infections. According to court documents, video surveillance showed Alberts use a syringe to inject an unknown substance into the boy’s IV line multiple times.
Medical staff told investigators the boy received his first round of chemotherapy in September and then went home. But he returned a few days later with a high fever, vomiting and significant bouts of diarrhea. Doctors found the child’s blood had organisms normally found in stool, and experts couldn’t find a medical explanation for the persistent blood infection.
According to court documents, Alberts was brought in for questioning. She allegedly first told investigators she injected water into her son’s IV to “flush the line” because the “medicine that was given to him burned,” the documents indicated. But the woman allegedly later confessed, telling investigators she injected the boy’s IV with fecal matter several times since Nov. 13. She claimed she did it only to get her son moved to another unit at Riley, where she said treatment was better.
Alberts was arrested and a judge issued a no-contact order. The boy’s health has since improved, but he was hospitalized for months, underwent several surgeries and doctors worry they may have missed their best window to treat his leukemia. They say the boy would have died had he undergone cancer treatment while he still had the blood infection.
The Tri-County School district where Ms. Alberts works told the station she’s been on leave since her husband died in May. Alberts is currently out on an $80,000 bond and allowed to live in Springfield, Ohio.
Source: Crimesider, November 24, 2016.
