Lucas, 7 months old, died of dehydration. His parents assured during the trial that they did not realize the gravity of the situation.
The parents prosecuted for the death of their child fed exclusively on vegetable milk were sentenced to 6 months suspended prison sentence. The court of Dendermonde in Flanders (Belgium) considered that they had “caused death without wanting to”, can we read on the site of the Belgian media 7 of 7.
The 7-month-old boy died in June 2014 in Hasselt hospital. Weighing just 4.3 kg, the weight of a child about a month old, Lucas was malnourished and died of dehydration.
Since his 3 months, his parents, owners of an organic products store, fed him only vegetable milk. These drinks improperly called “milks” are made from oats, rice, soya or almonds. They can be an alternative to cow’s milk for adults but by no means for young children. Experts recommend, in fact, to use infant formula for at least two months. From 4 months, these milky meals can be accompanied by small portions of vegetables and fruits.
Lack of medical follow-up
A dietary diversification that has never been implemented by the parents of little Lucas. The couple explained that they opted for plant-based milks because they believed their baby was lactose and gluten intolerant, and the mother was not producing enough milk. However, these disorders would never have been noted by a doctor, according to the public prosecutor who had requested a sentence of 18 months in prison. The parents have reportedly refused to see a doctor after several family members noted that the child’s state of health was deteriorating, the said. RTBF.
During the trial, the prosecutor argued that the parents were not worried about the severe weight loss of their child. The couple’s lawyer argued that his clients “never realized the situation was worrying or alarming.”
.
