The Jelenia Góra District Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment with the court against Agata W. and Robert W., residents of Kamienna Góra, who have been accused of exposing their several-month-old son Milan W. to an immediate danger to his life by failing to provide him with medical assistance despite the appearance of symptoms of illness. The child died.
Milan W. was born in February 2016 in Kamienna Góra. On the fourth day of his life, the boy was discharged home. His mother was informed that she needed to choose a doctor, nurse and midwife providing primary healthcare. His vaccination record was sent to one of the medical facilities.
However, neither Agata W. nor Robert W. completed a declaration to enroll in healthcare. They also did not bring the child for mandatory vaccinations.
At the beginning of August, Milan began to develop a fever and lose weight. He took fluids but did not want to eat and was vomiting. Agata W., who was primarily responsible for caring for the children because her partner was absent from home, did not take him to a doctor. Due to the child’s deteriorating condition, in the second half of August 2016 Robert W. suggested to his partner that she should take the baby to a doctor. He was then informed that his son was not registered with any clinic.
On September 6, 2016, Agata W. fed her son and then placed him in a stroller. After several hours, she noticed that the child was not moving. However, she thought he was sleeping very deeply. The following day, she went outside with the baby, who showed no signs of life. She did not inform Robert W. or any family member or acquaintance about the boy’s condition.
On September 10, 2016, police officers arrived at the above-mentioned couple’s apartment, and Agata W. then told her partner that their son was dead.
According to the forensic pathologist’s opinion, the child died approximately two days before his body was discovered. The initial cause of death was purulent meningitis, while the secondary cause was cardiopulmonary failure.
Meanwhile, the opinions of experts from the Department of Forensic Medicine indicate that there are insufficient grounds to conclude that there was a causal link between the parents’ failure to fulfill their obligation to ensure the child’s vaccinations and his death, or his exposure to an immediate danger of losing his life or suffering serious bodily harm.
During the proceedings, blood samples from the minor Milan W. and his parents were tested for alcohol, narcotic substances and psychotropic substances. No alcohol or narcotic substances were detected in the child’s blood. Amphetamine was detected in Agata W.’s blood, while amphetamine and marijuana were detected in Robert W.’s blood.
Agata W. and Robert W. were charged with exposing their several-month-old son Milan W. to an immediate danger to his life by failing to provide him with medical assistance despite the appearance of symptoms of illness. The woman admitted guilt. Her partner did not. The man explained that he had not known about his son’s serious condition. He was often away from home and returned only for the night. He entrusted responsibility for caring for the children to his partner.
Agata W. and Robert W. were temporarily detained by the court. (However, the measure was applied to the man in another, parallel proceeding.) Both parents could face up to five years in prison.