In May of 2007, the Associated Press reported that a vegan couple was sentenced

Question

In May of 2007, the Associated Press reported that a vegan couple was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of their 6-week-old son. The son’s death was attributed to malnutrition. He weighed only 3.5 pounds at the time of his death. The first-time parents claimed to have fed the child a diet consisting primarily of soymilk and apple juice. Their lawyer claims that they unintentionally starved their child because the apple juice worked as a diuretic and blocked the absorption of nutrients from the soymilk. Prosecutors claimed the baby suffered a prolonged and painful death, not because of what he was fed, but because he was fed too little and that his nutritional needs were deliberately ignored by his parents. The full article can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18574603/from/ET/ (Links to an external site.)

Reflect on this case and answer the following questions.

1)What are the nutritional needs of an infant?

2)What kinds of problems, other than death, can malnutrition cause?

3)What kinds of social policies could be enacted to inform parents of their child’s nutritional needs?

4)How can new mothers get help to feed their baby?

5)Do you agree or disagree with the outcome of this case?

5a)Why or why not?

Explanation / Answer

2.. A infant who not recceive essential nutrition element are call as malnourished. they are characterized by delayed growth in the child; or the child has insufficient weight in relation to his height. the problems associated with malnutrition except death are-

IRON DEFICIENCY- this causes growth problems, it results in weakened immune system. so infant is easily exposed to disesses like pneumoniae, measels, malaria.

iodine deficiency- it causes irreversible brain lessions leading to mental retardation.

vitamin A deficiency- this is the leading cause of blindness in malnourished infants.

1. NUTRITIONAL NEED OF INFANT- The nutritional need of infant is fulfilled for first 6 month by breast feeding. but the child also needs several other component for good growth. child needs fat and essential fatty acid for cell membrane function and brain development; such as linoleic and linolenic acid. protein is also essential for body growth. the child also needs vitamins A,D,E,K. Micronutrients as iron, iodine, magnesium are also important.

3. the government may imply several policies to inform parents of their childs nutritional need. several NGO can campaign in various places to rise awareness. an school based nutritional program should be set up to study and moniter the nutritional status of child. the child will learn there which food is healthy and what could promote his growth in his diet.

4. mother should feed her child with breast milk, as for first 6 month of the baby mother milk is essential as it is rich in many essential nutrients that the baby need. milk feeding prevents malnutrition problem at basic level and also boosts the baby's immune system.

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