DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

25 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Doctor jailed for trying to kill her baby with adulterated milk

March 19, 2024
A Dutch courtroom. Photo: Odi Busman

A former doctor from Utrecht has been jailed for 11 years for attempting to kill her newborn baby by feeding her poisoned breast milk.

The baby was born prematurely in April 2020 and was being looked after while in an incubator when the attempt was made on her life.

The court was told that the woman, known only as Sarah V, delivered expressed milk to the hospital for her daughter. However, unbeknown to the nursing staff, she had systematically watered down the milk and added an anti-diarrhea drug. This led the baby to develop severe heart issues which baffled the doctors.

V’s act only came to light when the breast milk was analysed and the baby was given artificial milk, which led to her recovery.

The sentence is in line with the public prosecution department’s demand. “You took it for granted that she would die,” the court said, announcing its findings. “The baby was exposed to a drug which cannot be given to children under the age of three, let alone a premature baby.”

V was, however, found not guilty of attempting to make her son ill a few years previously, even though he showed stunted growth and had serious intestinal problems.

V, who was a practicing doctor but has since been declared unfit for work, denied all the charges. She says that she was suffering from post-natal psychosis and is not aware of what she did.

The court, however, said this is unlikely, given that no such psychiatric problem had been identified in her. The public prosecutor had said the woman suffered from Munchhausen’s syndrome by proxy, but the court ruled this had not been fully established.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Children Court cases Crime Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now