Dad Who Gave Maple Syrup to Treat Son With Bacterial Meningitis Sentenced to Jail

The father who gave maple syrup and other “natural remedies” as treatment for his baby boy who had bacterial meningitis has been sentenced to jail.

David Stephan, 33, was sentenced in court in Canada on Friday to four months in jail, while his wife, Collet Stephan, 36, was given three months of house arrest.

CTV News reported that Justice Rodney Jerke said that the couple were “wilfully blind” to the grave condition of their 19-month-old son, Ezekiel. However, he acknowledged that the couple loved their son, but said they have not taken personal responsibility for their failure. He particularly singled out Mr Stephan, who has openly criticised the court system over the case, and said he does not believe Mr Stephan feels sorry for his actions. “Mr Stephan’s post-conviction actions demonstrate a complete lack of remorse. To this day he refuses to admit his actions had any impact,” he said.

The couple were found guilty in April of failing to provide proper medical treatment for their son after he got sick with bacterial meningitis and died in March 2012.

The couple were first charged in February 2013 and Mr Stephan said that Ezekiel’s health appeared to improve before it quickly deteriorated. He told Canadian paper, the Calgary Herald, that they attended to the matter and treated their son accordingly to standard practices and recommendations.

The couple pleaded not guilty to failing to provide for their son. They also posted on social media that they were being unfairly judged and that their approach to health and medicine should be respected.

During the trial, the court was shown an interview between Mr Stephan and producers of the documentary, Vaxxed. In the video, Mr Stephan called the case “a parental rights issue” and said his family had been unfairly targeted.

The court also heard in an audiotape that the couple are allegedly heard telling a police officer they prefer natural remedies over traditional healthcare. They are also heard saying that the family has had negative experiences with the medical system.

When Ezekiel fell ill, instead of seeking advice from healthcare professionals, the couple gave Ezekiel homemade remedies such as apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and horseradish root, including hot peppers, mashed onion, and garlic and ginger root mixtures as his condition worsened. Despite being told by a family friend who works in nursing that Ezekiel had meningitis, the couple did not seek medical assistance.

Prosecutors told the jury that Ezekiel suffered from meningitis for two weeks, but his parents only called for medical help when he stopped breathing.

Ezekiel died in hospital after five days on life support.

Justice Jerke ordered the parents to take their three children to a family doctor once every year and ordered Mrs Stephan to publish the complete sentencing decision on a Facebook page titled, Prayers for Ezekiel.

Source: News.com.au