Parents consult with fools, baby dies
• Miracle Cures, Health Quackery
PARENTS of an epileptic baby saw a psychic, a naturopath and an iridologist before taking her off medication, a court heard yesterday.
The Melbourne couple were told the girl was reliving her past life traumas and did not suffer from epilepsy, the Coroner's Court was told.
This was despite the child suffering frequent seizures for months.
Chloe Adams, Herald Sun: Baby's death debate
The inquest heard that Mr and Mrs Denley had seen a variety of alternative therapists, including a psychic, who told them that Isabella was "reliving a past life trauma".
Isabella died at her home in Kew on October 19 last year.
Mark Mackay, a neurologist at the Royal Children's Hospital, said Isabella had suffered from "life-threatening epilepsy" and needed anti-convulsant medicine. But the inquest heard that Mrs Denley wanted to take Isabella off the medicine because of side-effects, including hyperactivity and sleep loss.
"I was uncomfortable with the fact that the parents were nominating me as Isabella's treating medical practitioner despite the fact that they were refusing to follow my medical advice," Dr Mackay said.
Jamie Berr, The Age: Inquest told parents 'rejected advice'