What do you do when your spouse overdoses your kid.?

Question

Last night my spouse gave my child (5) medicine in a shot glass. When he left the room, I poured it into a measure cup and it was over 3 teaspoons! I poured it only 1/2 teaspoon back in the shot glass for my child. My spouse was angry when he heard us and got mad. Saying he usually gives him the medicine after I go to bed! Reading the directions. It is 2 teaspoons for a adult dosage, not to exceed 4 tsp in 24 hours. He is giving my child 3 tsp or more in 24 hours. He thinks he is right about everything, but this really scares me. What should I do to protect my child from this??

The medicine is called Delsym, and the dosage is in teaspoons for adults and children. Anyone who hurts a child is inadequate in my opinion.

http://www.delsym.info/Label.aspx

Answer 1

This is actually child abuse and should be reported to CPS. Your husband can and possible should go to jail for child endangerment. Overdosing on purpose is also attempted murder and there is a possiblity that he could be charged with that.
I would tell the child never take medicine unless you give it, forbid him from ever giving medicine to the child and if he refuses to listen or heed your request then turn him in. Otherwise the next time it could be fatal and both of you charged with murder as you are aware of the situation and failed to take reasonable steps to protect the child.
Also, get away from him as soon as possible.

Answer 2

This is about the most craziest thing I have ever heard of. I mean what is he needing medicine for every night? Is he trying to make the kid go to sleep? Is he trying to kill him or warp his brain for life? If I was you and as a mother, I would contact the poison control center along with anonymously contacting the department of children and family services to let them come in and tell your husband what he is doing wrong. You have to put a stop to this as a mother. You have to take your sons life in your own hands and not worry about what your husband will think about it. Do you want to visit your childs funeral soon? I am not trying to be mean to you, I am just trying to help you open your little eyes and see what the outcome could end up being. You best make the right decision for your child or else it may be too late. Also, if D.C.F.S. gets involved and finds out that you have not done anything about this and that you knew about it for a while now then they will place your child in foster care. Do you want that too? They can check the level of that drug in your childs blood. You need to leave and go to safty with your child even if you have to get the law involved. before he takes the law into his own hands and kills you all. Think what you are allowing him to do to your son. Is he going to do it to him again tonight when you go to bed? Come on and call the athorities now, and leave. They will help you and your child to be protected from him. he may be druging you too, at this point you really just don't know.

Answer 3

Tell him for now on you will be the on to give your child the medication when they're sick. Let him know that your not trying to be rude but the dosage he is giving your child is actually an over dose and that doctors and scientist don't put the measurements on the bottle just for the hell of it, that they actually do research to make sure children and adults get the proper amount to insure they're safely. Point out to him that just because your child hasn't had a fatal over dose doesn't mean its okay for him continue to give them the same amount of medication ever time. He can act how he wants to you and say what he wants but when it comes to your child's well being don't take any chances. What if something horrible happened to your baby how would you ever forgive yourself. Stand up to this man and do whats right and protect your child.

Answer 4

Depending on the medicine, sometimes it won't hurt your child. If it's cold medicine, usually, for adults, it's measured in tablespoons, not teaspoons. While it's not wise for him to be giving more than the recommended dosage, something you said has me thinking maybe he feels like an inadequate parent. Do you "correct" his parenting in other ways? Not saying you do, just giving you some food for thought. This sounds like a marital issue, and maybe counseling is in order.

Also, if this is a medicine the child is getting all the time, your child has built up an immunity to it, so it may not hurt your child, but then the medicine is no longer helping. Do make sure he's informed about medicines. Maybe you could both do like a study about all the different meds. Or all three of you. Make it a family learning experience. Make sure to not make your husband feel like an inadequate parent.

It could be your husband thought a shot glass and a medicine cup were the same amount, and when corrected, was made to feel embarrassed, although that really did need to be corrected.

Answer 5

If he is one of those husbands
who must be right about
everything, you are in trouble.
If he wants to be domineering
to you (and you allow it) that's
one thing, but to use his
egocentric insecurities on the
child is unacceptable.
It is critical to give a child
medication AS PRESCRIBED. No more,
no less.
Do not let him give the child
the med after you go to bed.
Call your doctor and tell him
what your husband is doing
and ask his advice.
It is a criminal offense to
deliberately cause harm to
any child. What is this med
for? Would your husband
like to get rid of a child that
is an overburden?

Answer 6

Lock up the medicine somewhere that your husband cannot get to it! Put it in your trunk...get it out of there! That is very dangerous for your child. Why is he giving your child this medication every night after you go to bed??? That is way out of line! If its a medication that your child needs daily then you be the one to give it to him. Your husband could have not realized he was giving him too much, or doesn't know the danger in giving someone too much medication. Explain this to him. Show him overdoses of this medication online---something. But until he could act as an adult with any medication being administered to my child I would get it out of his sight where he couldn't find it or get to it!

Answer 7

This is very disturbing. What kind of medicine is this? Does your child need it on a regular basis, or is it to make the child sleep?
Understand, that damages from using any drug, long term and without regards as to how much is required, can lead to a variety of long term illnesses, (heart disease, liver damage, kidney failure), and actual addiction to the drug.
You make sure your husband goes WITH YOU and the child to see your Doctor and gets proper instructions with regards to this and any other pharmaceuticals he might be shoving down this poor kid's throat, because if something happens, your husband can be charged with all sorts of interesting things, like, for example, negligent homicide.

Answer 8

Is this the first time this has happened? If so, take the measuring spoon and SHOW him how much he gave the child...if he still wants to pretend he's right I'd report him to Children's services and throw him out. You don't need someone who is so horribly dismissive about the safety of your child in the home.

Answer 9

Accidentally break (drop) the shot glass and give him a teaspoon. Talk to him about it when your going out to dinner, just to talk not to get mad and argue. Stay strong and work through it. I know that is earier said then done, but you can do it. You have to be strong for your child.

Answer 10

This is called "child abuse" and could result in your child becoming critically ill, or dead! Get your child out of this situation immediately, even if you have to go to a shelter to do so, and report the abuser so he won't do it again in the future, either to your child or any other child.

You have a responsibility to your child to do whatever you have to in order to make him safe. That is the obligation you took on when you became a parent.