A 63 year old care worker has been jailed for ill-treating an elderly dementia patient by feeding her with a syringe which caused her to choke.
Katherine Latham of Railway Road, Downham Market, appeared at Norwich Crown Court today (Tuesday December 16) where she was jailed for 10 months.
Latham used a syringe to put pureed food into the mouth of the 93-year-old patient at Amberley Hall Care Home on Tuesday October 15 last year.
The patient should have been fed by a spoon as feeding her with a syringe would cause a significant risk of choking.
As a result the elderly woman had problems breathing and was admitted to hospital where she died on Thursday October 17 - however, the cause of death was not due to Latham’s actions, the court heard.
Latham was later reported for the offence of ill treatment and neglect contrary under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and was found guilty following a trial in October this year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here