A MUM-of-a few was arrested for “poisoning” her children and identified with Munchausen syndrome – before medical doctors found she was suffering from a concealed issue.
Laura Turner, 44, rushed her kids to A&E in a paranoid stress in June 2022, convinced they’d consumed her sleeping tablets.
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The mum was later on informed she was currently being arrested on suspicion of attempting to poison her very own youngsters and was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome – a problem in which someone pretends to be unwell or intentionally generates signs and symptoms of sickness in them selves.
It wasn’t right up until months later that physicians explained her intense paranoia had been caused by a unusual response to psychiatric medications.
Laura’s existence was thrown into turmoil soon after a splendor remedy long gone erroneous in November 2021 still left her with continual ache in her mouth and tooth.
The mum was specified antidepressants to handle the pain, which she promises left her not able to slumber, in a long-lasting state of panic and suicidal.
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The formerly delighted and wholesome mum-of-a few began acting out of character, her spouse Duncan explained to MyLondon: “There was this extraordinary agitation and stress all the time.”
On June 1 2022, Laura was gripped by a haze of delusion and grew to become convinced that her young children had ingested her sleeping drugs.
While the young ones, aged two, 6 and 8 at the time, showed no signs or symptoms of obtaining completed so, Laura rushed them to A&E.
Acquiring named her spouse, Laura still left her neighborhood healthcare facility on her very own and attempted to take her possess existence, suffering a damaged clavicle, ribs and pelvis.
She was transferred to St George’s Healthcare facility in Tooting, London, to get treatment for her injuries.
“I was later told I was arrested on claims that I experienced tried to poison my young children,” Laura advised MyLondon.
The mum remained at St George’s for four months and was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome, prior to placed in two psychiatric wards for a further more 3 months.
A quest for responses
Just after Laura was discharged from psychiatric care – acquiring been recommended anti-psychotics, antidepressants and medications to treat snooze problems and stress and anxiety – she began looking for answers about what experienced took place to her.
She came across YouTube job interview with an American neurotoxicologist Dr Raymond Singer, speaking about a condition called neurotoxicity or neurotixic poisoning.
“It explained every single solitary point that experienced transpired to me,” Laura claimed.
Dr Singer claimed that some individuals can be genetically far more prone to neurotoxic poisoning and can reactions to psychiatric medicines like sleeplessness and suicidal feelings.
Laura booked a consultation with Dr Singer, who encouraged she get her DNA examined by a forensic health care examiner and DNA pro, Dr Selma Eikelenboom-Schieveld.
The success confirmed that her system had problem metabolising medications, particularly the psychoactive medicines prescribed to her.
Dr Eikelenboom-Schieveld also claimed Laura experienced formulated a condition named akathisia as a aspect effect from the prescription drugs prescribed to her and advisable the mum be weaned off the meds she was having.
The neuropsychiatric syndrome and motion ailment can trigger an intensive feeling of unease or interior restlessness and has been connected to particular varieties of prescription drugs, specially antipsychotic medicines, in accordance to Cleveland Clinic.
Laura claims akathisia – which she mentioned brings about intensive feelings of restlessness, agitation and suicidal feelings amongst other people – was responsible for the paranoia that induced her to rush her children to A&E, and her other uncomfortable signs or symptoms.
Dr Singer and Dr Eikelenboom’s experiences have been reviewed by a advisor psychiatrist based on Harley Street.
They agreed that Laura had made akathisia as a aspect influence of her treatment and that her indicators had been misdiagnosed as an evolving psychological illness, MyLondon reported.
What is Munchausen syndrome?
MUNCHAUSEN syndrome is a psychological issue where somebody pretends to be sick or intentionally generates signs or symptoms of health issues in themselves.
Individuals with Munchausen syndrome can behave in a amount of different strategies, including:
- Pretending to have psychological symptoms – for example, professing to hear voices or claiming to see items that are not genuinely there
- Pretending to have actual physical symptoms – for example, claiming to have upper body pain or a tummy ache
- Actively trying to get ill – such as deliberately infecting a wound by rubbing dust into it
The ailment is elaborate and badly recognized, while it’s considered it could be introduced on by psychological trauma or temperament issues.
Resource: NHS
Laura described her prognosis as pivotal, expressing: “I am not an isolated situation, I have read a lot of heartbreaking stories.
“I experienced all the indications of this ailment.”
The Metropolitan Police concluded in 2024 that no more action would be taken towards Laura.
A statement from the Satisfied said: “In June 2021, police arrested a woman after considerations were being elevated for the welfare of young children in her care.
“Professional detectives have been assigned examine all the instances and assemble probable proof, and the female was introduced on bail whilst this took place.
“Law enforcement will often check out to guarantee investigations are done as quickly as doable, but ought to pursue all readily available evidence – in advanced scenarios this can just take some time.
“Right after all the evidence was compiled and presented to the Crown Prosecution Support, a choice was taken in February 2024 that the lady would deal with no even more motion.
“We are acutely mindful of the anxiety a police investigation can have on all all those associated, but officers have a obligation to make sure all traces of enquiry are totally investigated right before an consequence can be reached.”
A spokesperson for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier College Hospitals and Wellbeing Team stated: “We strive to be certain all clients get safe and compassionate care, and are quite sorry to hear that Mrs Turner was unsatisfied with her encounter in our hospitals.
“While Mrs Turner has formerly elevated some of her worries with us right, which we responded to, we are here need to she want to discuss or highlight nearly anything even further.”
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