A woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to harm her elderly mother in a hospital using pillows and a knife.
During the incident at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), medical staff overheard Susan Hardwick, 65, expressing her desire to harm her mother by placing a pillow over her face.
The court learned that Joan Hardwick, aged 89 at the time, was about to be discharged to a care home and was in stable condition, contrary to being critically ill.
Susan, who resides in Beech Road, Armthorpe, Doncaster, admitted to attempted murder after a thorough assessment of her mental capacity to stand trial.
The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Goss, noted Susan’s misinterpretation of the situation, believing her mother was being transferred to a hospital where she had received inadequate care.
Susan, who has cerebral palsy, a potential cognitive impairment, and is undergoing cancer treatment, displayed emotional distress throughout the court proceedings.
Describing the case as complex, the judge acknowledged Susan’s mental challenges and lack of a clear motive for her actions, suggesting she may have viewed her actions as a compassionate act at the time.
He highlighted that there was no indication that Joan had expressed a wish to die and emphasized Susan’s concerns about her mother’s care as a driving factor behind the incident.
Joan Hardwick, who had been at DRI for three weeks following a stroke treatment at Mexborough Montague Hospital, was found with minor injuries after the incident, including cuts, and a non-hospital knife was discovered nearby.
According to the prosecution, Susan expressed to hospital security her belief that her mother desired to die due to her quality of life and past medical experiences.
It was clarified that Joan was scheduled for discharge to a care home, not a hospital as Susan had feared based on a previous medical error at Mexborough Montague Hospital.
Susan’s defense attorney highlighted her lifelong dependency on her mother due to cerebral palsy and communication challenges, suggesting her actions stemmed from a misguided sense of mercy.
The court was informed of the close bond between Susan and her mother, characterized by a secluded lifestyle, with Susan fixated on the mistaken belief of her mother’s return to the hospital.
The defense emphasized Susan’s intent and belief in acting out of mercy as pivotal in assessing her actions.
