PITTSBURGH – A mother is accused of making her baby critically ill by smearing diaper feces on the child’s IV and feeding tubes. The 7-month-old was in the intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in danger of dying from an unknown illness when surveillance video captured the mother in the act.
According to the criminal complaint, Lauren Buzard, “actively harmed” her baby “in order to get the benefit of exhaustive medical evaluation and attention.” The complaint goes on to state that the baby “could have died during his hospitalization due to medical complications and infections.”
Buzard faces court-ordered mental evaluations as she awaits trial. Formal arraignment is set for Oct. 18.
The baby has since recovered and has been discharged from the hospital.