Faked baby illness woman jailed

Suzanne McDaid (right) suffered from Munchausens Syndrome by Proxy

A woman who faked the illness of a baby girl in her care causing her to undergo unnecessary operations has been jailed for two years.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Suzanne McDaid, 23, had been suffering from Munchausens Syndrome by Proxy.

She told medical staff the child had been vomiting blood and doctors performed six operations in a bid to find the cause.

McDaid shouted "I never meant to hurt her" as she was led away from court.

She had earlier admitted culpable and reckless conduct between October 2005 and May 2006.

Blood spray

The court was told how McDaid, from Paisley, made her claims to staff at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children on numerous occasions.

Over a period of months, the baby underwent exploratory operations under a general anaesthetic.

Surgeons also tunnelled a feeding tube under her chin into her stomach and inserted a tube in a vein in her neck so that they could take regular blood samples and administer medication.

McDaid tried to make her story more believable by using a syringe to draw off blood so that she could spray it over the baby's clothes and mouth.

Neil Beardsmore, prosecuting, told the court that McDaid was suffering from Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy - a condition where people draw attention to themselves by faking illnesses in children.

Judge Lord Philip heard that McDaid's actions were revealed when her mother told police that her daughter had confessed.

He said her lack of remorse meant he had to impose a custodial sentence.