Glorias negligent parents.

Gloria Thomas tragically died in May 2002 at only nine months old after her parents failed to treat her chronic eczema with conventional medicine – instead choosing to use alternative rememdies such as homeopathy.

Her parents watched as she deteriorated day after day, living in pain as her malnourished body used the vitamins and minerals from food into fighting the eczema, and rather than acting they continued to shun conventional medical treatment in favour of alternative treatments.

Gloria’s short life was ended when her weakened immune system could not fight off an infection. At the time of her death her skin was so sore and cracked that the open wounds were bleeding. Her hair that had once been dark had turned white and the corneas in her eyes had started to melt.

Gloria’s father who, ironically, practiced as a homeopath at the time was recently sentenced to eight years’ prison with a minimum of six years. He has also been banned from practising homeopathy for life – but only in Australia. Gloria’s mother was jailed for five years and four months with a minimum of four years. Her shorter sentence gives the impression that she is not as much to blame as Gloria’s father when the truth is the complete opposite.

The jury found the couple had breached their duty of care as parents by persisting with alternative remedies for their daughter’s skin condition which “plainly weren’t working” instead of seeking conventional medical help like any rational person might do.

Justice Peter Johnson said both parents had shown gross negligence in the treatment of their daughter, however he said Mr Sam had additionally breached his duty of care to Gloria as her treating homeopath. Her own father…

“This case doesn’t concern the failure of homeopathy,” Justice Johnson said, “Rather, it concerns the gross criminal negligence of two parents who failed to ensure that their infant daughter received necessary and appropriate medical care and attention for a treatable condition. The offences did not involve an isolated act or omission but rather a prolonged, sustained and deliberate decision by each offender … not to seek proper medical attention for Gloria over a very substantial period of time,” he said.

“Gloria was subjected to significant pain over an extended period of time and the omission of the offenders to seek proper assistance for her may be characterised accurately as cruelty.”

The judge also said that while Gloria’s mother’s level of culpability was below her husband’s, there was no excuse for why she was not more assertive in seeking proper medical help for Gloria. Something with which I strongly agree and because of this I cannot fathom out her shorter jail sentence.

Another comment from the Judge baffles me too. The idea that the case doesn’t concern homeopathy and it’s failings to cure Gloria.

If anything, I’d say the falings on homepathy played a very large part of the poor girls death and yet it seems it’s being swept under the carpet? Sure, he parents and their negligence are the cause of her death but homeopathy didn’t work and so I feel it should also be examined as to why, despite recommendations as early as October 2001 that Gloria see a specialist from medical experts, Mr Sam was allowed to continue treating his daughter with homeopathic remedies that clearly were not working. Why did nobody step in to save the girl from a cruel existence and a slow, painful death?

Instead, her parents were allowed to take her to India for more homeopathic treatment. Doctors warned the parents this would be cruel – but nothing was done to prevent it occuring? Why?

Following their return to Australia – on board a plane where fellow passengers described the child as “screaming constantly” and “inconsolable” – for nine “critical” days, the pair did nothing. On the ninth day, concerned about a lingering eye infection, the Sams took their daughter to the Sydney Children’s Hospital but it was too late – Gloria died three days later.

Doctors said she had been malnourished for months and in severe pain for weeks.

“Gloria’s body was worn down and ultimately worn out,” the judge said, “this is not a case of a hidden condition going untreated and ultimately causing death. Rather this case involves an accumulation of obvious health problems which, whilst not properly treated, saw the child descending towards death.”

With time already served, Thomas Sam, Glorias father, will be eligible for release on July 1, 2015 and Manju Sam, her mother, will be eligible for release on September 27, 2013.

However, personally, I don’t feel this is long enough for what they made their poor daughter endure. Thinking of what Gloria went through makes me feel physically ill. Even more so when it was her parents that put her through such an ordeal.

Be sure to listen to the next episode of Righteous Indignation where, Trystan, Marsh & I will discuss this story in more detail. The podcast can be found at: www.ripodcast.co.uk

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© 2009 Hayley Stevens