Attempted infanticide or accidental poisoning of a newborn with eucalyptusoil

Case: A newborn infant was treated in hospital because of suspected pneumon ia and renal insufficiency at the third day post partum. Seven days later, shortly after having been nursed by her mother,the newborn vomited an eucal yptus oil-smelling liquid, which was collected in a diaper. This liquid and the liquid obtained from a gastrolavage performed immediately afterwards w ere secured in air-tight bottles. The family of the newborn laid a charge a gainst the hospital for bodily harm caused by negligence reproaching the ho spital for having willfully given the newborn a toxic substance. Discussion: Only by means of advanced analytical methods (mikroheadspace GC /MS and GC/MS) which permit a subtle separation of mixtures of volatile oil s, the reproach against the hospital could be refuted and the suspicion aga inst the mother confirmed. In connection with the clinical picture which is discussed with reference to the relevant literature, and the investigation results of the police, the mother was deprived of the custody of her child , and the child was placed into the custody of the youth welfare office.