ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Mum faces death threats over breastfeeding her four-year-old toddler

Mum faces death threats over breastfeeding her four-year-old toddler

Vegan couple are charged for 'starving toddler to death, feeding him strict plant-based diet'

Vegan couple are charged for 'starving toddler to death, feeding him strict plant-based diet'

Baby dies with SIX TIMES legal blood alcohol limit

Baby dies with SIX TIMES legal blood alcohol limit

Newborn baby died after mum fell asleep while breastfeeding

Newborn baby died after mum fell asleep while breastfeeding

{headline}

{headline}

Mum’s heartbreak: I had no idea I was starving my baby

Mum’s heartbreak: I had no idea I was starving my baby

Why this woman breastfeeds her seven-year-old son

Why this woman breastfeeds her seven-year-old son

Police officer breastfeeds malnourished baby in incredible act of generosity

Police officer breastfeeds malnourished baby in incredible act of generosity

{headline}

{headline}

Breastfeeding mum’s witty response after being told to ‘cover up’

Breastfeeding mum’s witty response after being told to ‘cover up’

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Mum charged after 'drug Ice in breastmilk killed baby'

Mum charged after 'drug Ice in breastmilk killed baby'

Aussie mum: I breastfeed my school aged sons

Aussie mum: I breastfeed my school aged sons

Mum's warning after stranger hacked her baby monitor to watch her breastfeed

Mum's warning after stranger hacked her baby monitor to watch her breastfeed

Former Neighbours star labelled a ‘weirdo’ for breastfeeding her 19-month-old son

Former Neighbours star labelled a ‘weirdo’ for breastfeeding her 19-month-old son

Powerful image shows one mum’s determination to breastfeed after cancer

Powerful image shows one mum’s determination to breastfeed after cancer

  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Sydney Naturopath jailed after baby nearly starved to death

She will never work with children again. - by Poppy Jakobs
  • 09 Apr 2018

A naturopath will serve a maximum of 14 months behind bars after she advised a breastfeeding mother to follow a liquid-only diet, which nearly killed her eight-month-old baby.

Sydney naturopath Marilyn Pauline Bodnar was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the mother in failing to provide the necessities of life, The Guardian reports 

The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, visited Bodnar on a series of occasions in Leppington in 2015. The court heard the naturopath told the woman to stop conventional medical and dermatological treatments to help cure the boy’s eczema.

Bodnar told the breastfeeding mother to follow a raw food only diet, and later recommended she consume water only.   

The severely malnourished and dehydrated baby was admitted to Westmead hospital in May 2015 weighing just 6.5kg. Police say the boy was "just days" from death, the ABC reports.

7News Yahoo7 on Twitter

"Well intentioned but seriously misguided advice is … capable of causing great harm and even death to vulnerable children," Judge Peter Berman said during sentencing.

"There is no doubt that she is a caring and well-meaning individual and that her intentions in providing advice to [the child's] mother were based on what she believed to be some connection between [his] eczema and the mother's diet.

"But once it became clearly apparent that there was a risk of harm to [the child] through the mother following her advice, it was a seriously criminal thing to do to ignore the effect of her advice on [the child's] wellbeing."

Bodnar’s defence team says the naturopath has vowed to never work with children again and deeply regrets her actions.

“She feels crushed, she has been punished," Lawyer Rick Mitry said of the social media backlash Bodnar has experienced since her arrest. 

November 4 is the earliest date the disgraced naturopath could be released from prison.

This article originally appeared on Marie Claire. 

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Mum faces death threats over breastfeeding her four-year-old toddler

Mum faces death threats over breastfeeding her four-year-old toddler

Vegan couple are charged for 'starving toddler to death, feeding him strict plant-based diet'

Vegan couple are charged for 'starving toddler to death, feeding him strict plant-based diet'

Baby dies with SIX TIMES legal blood alcohol limit

Baby dies with SIX TIMES legal blood alcohol limit

Newborn baby died after mum fell asleep while breastfeeding

Newborn baby died after mum fell asleep while breastfeeding

{headline}

{headline}

Mum’s heartbreak: I had no idea I was starving my baby

Mum’s heartbreak: I had no idea I was starving my baby

Why this woman breastfeeds her seven-year-old son

Why this woman breastfeeds her seven-year-old son

Police officer breastfeeds malnourished baby in incredible act of generosity

Police officer breastfeeds malnourished baby in incredible act of generosity

{headline}

{headline}

Breastfeeding mum’s witty response after being told to ‘cover up’

Breastfeeding mum’s witty response after being told to ‘cover up’

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Mum charged after 'drug Ice in breastmilk killed baby'

Mum charged after 'drug Ice in breastmilk killed baby'

Aussie mum: I breastfeed my school aged sons

Aussie mum: I breastfeed my school aged sons

Mum's warning after stranger hacked her baby monitor to watch her breastfeed

Mum's warning after stranger hacked her baby monitor to watch her breastfeed

Former Neighbours star labelled a ‘weirdo’ for breastfeeding her 19-month-old son

Former Neighbours star labelled a ‘weirdo’ for breastfeeding her 19-month-old son

Powerful image shows one mum’s determination to breastfeed after cancer

Powerful image shows one mum’s determination to breastfeed after cancer

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000