30s Couple Sentenced to Prison for Giving Adult Cold Medicine to 2-Month-Old Baby

Mixing Cold Medicine with Baby Formula Leads to Infant Side Effects and Death

A man and woman in their 30s who caused the death of a 2-month-old infant by giving adult cold medicine were sentenced to prison.

According to Yonhap News on the 13th, Judge Lee Jae-won of Criminal Division 5 at Changwon District Court sentenced the biological mother A (in her 30s) and A’s acquaintance B (in his 30s), both charged with involuntary manslaughter, to one year of imprisonment each.

Changwon District Court Photo by Yonhap News, file photo

A and B were indicted on charges of giving adult cold medicine and a sleep-inducing drug mixed in formula milk to A’s 2-month-old infant C at a motel in Changwon, Gyeongnam, in August 2022, and placing him face down to sleep, which led to his death.

An autopsy revealed that the diphenhydramine component in the cold medicine had a toxic effect on C. Adult cold medicines containing diphenhydramine are not recommended for children under the age of four due to the risk of serious side effects, including death in infants and young children.

At the time, A and B reportedly gave C formula milk mixed with adult cold medicine purchased from a pharmacy because C was fussy and would not sleep.

The autopsy found that C’s death was primarily caused by the drug components, and secondarily by obstructive asphyxia while the sedative drug components were still present in his body.

After C continued to fuss despite drinking the medicine-laced formula, B was heard telling C to “put him face down to sleep” on A’s instruction, and B placed C face down to sleep. They reportedly confessed to the crime after the drug components were detected in the autopsy.

At the time of the incident, B’s cohabiting partner D and D’s child were also present at the motel.

The court stated, “The defendants’ negligence was very serious as the death of C could have been prevented with just a little more care. Although they concealed the fact that they gave cold medicine during the initial investigation and the circumstances after the crime were unfavorable, the sentencing considered their admission of guilt and remorse.”