The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 6: Mens Rea
Page 6: Situations
Now meet Jan and her baby Dean.
Mom and baby
Dean has had a nasty cough all day, so Jan gives him a dose of her extra strength cough medicine.
Baby coughing, Mom reaching for bottle labeled “12+”
He stops breathing and is dead in minutes.
Grieving Mom, baby’s body in the background
A doctor should have been consulted before giving any medicine to child. All though there was no intent to injure the child from that over the counter cough medicine the fact remains it was extra strength medicine and maybe not suited for children. Before giving any medicine to a child it is always smart to consult with a doctor to avoid legal issues or fatalities.