Woman who ‘voluntarily’ gave boy harmful laxatives that affected his development jailed for 7 years

Tracy Menhinick, a 52-year-old former nursing assistant, was found guilty on April 9 of “willful ill-treatment” of the boy in order to cause him harm.

A woman who gave harmful laxatives to a boy has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Tracy Menhinick, a 52-year-old former nursing assistant, was found guilty of “willfully ill-treating” the boy in order to cause him harm, according to a sentencing order handed down at the High Court in Glasgow on April 9. several times over three years.

The release adds that Menhinick gave the boy a non-prescribed medication such as lactulose laxative, leading to his admission to the hospital due to his affected development and mobility.

She also allegedly accepted procedures, treatments and operations that the child did not need, all “at the risk of his permanent disfigurement, his permanent disability and danger to his life”, states the act of decree. charge.

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“The level of laxatives given to him was such that at times he would have floppy episodes when he would go limp and have to be resuscitated,” Judge Lady Drummond said during sentencing. “He had to undergo intrusive and risky operations that you knew were unnecessary and you were the one who needed them.”

“You are 52 years old and deny any responsibility for your actions,” she added. “You have no previous convictions. You previously worked in hospitals and with young people. You yourself suffered childhood trauma and are currently bedridden.

The judge also noted that Menhinick suffered from factitious disorder, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

“You have a factitious disorder imposing itself on yourself and another (these were previously known as Munchausen and Munchausen by Proxy),” Drummond said. “In the opinion of the psychiatrist, you do not need hospital treatment for these disorders.”

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She added: “Based on the report, you did not experience any impairment in your ability to reality test that would provide psychiatric grounds for mitigation of your actions. You do not accept that you have these problems. The motivation for your behavior is uncertain.

According to the Mayo Clinic, factitious disorder is a mental disorder when a person intentionally makes or makes someone else sick.

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that 5,500 pages of evidence and medical records, revealing the boy’s inability to gain weight for 19 days, have been heard in court.

The outlet adds that the boy was between three and six years old when he was poisoned, adding that an expert witness said he was admitted to the hospital weighing less than 22 pounds. at the age of five.

According to the outlet, the boy was admitted in October 2016 and Menhinick was later removed from his care after Great Ormond Street Hospital in London found lactulose in his stool sample.

After Menhinick was removed from his care, the younger child’s condition reportedly improved, although he was permanently disfigured.

Scottish Police declined PEOPLE’s request for a statement.

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