On the evening of 22nd September 2011, MU (mother of Child U) presented at
the accident and emergency department of her local hospital with self
inflicted injuries to her wrist and neck. MU was assessed at risk of further self
harm, and was seen by an Emergency Medicine Registrar (EMR) for
assessment. MU informed medical staff that she had cut her wrists and ankle
with a knife as she wanted to end her life; also that she had taken
approximately ten paracetamol the previous night and drunk half a bottle of
rum that day.
MU went on to say that she ‘did what she did because it needed to be done’,
and that ‘the system was corrupt; Social Workers were treating her badly and
had taken her daughter’. When asked where her daughter was, MU
informed medical staff that she was dead at home because she had
suffocated her on Tuesday evening. The EMR noted that when disclosing her
actions, MU showed no signs of regret and was very calm in her demeanour.