A woman's on trial in Nelson, accused of medically abusing her child

Open Justice reports the mother, who has name suppression to protect the identity of the child, is facing four charges of ill treatment of a child, and three of infecting with disease.

She was charged in 2023, two years after a doctor at a North Island hospital reported her for medical child abuse.

The Crown's case revolves around two key phrases - deliberate contamination and deliberate tampering.

It says the woman pierced holes in medical equipment, withheld liquid feeds, and put unknown substances into the child's veins through a permanent IV line.