My parents and grandparents always taught me not to play sick. They said it was considered bad luck. If you pretended to be sick when you weren’t, the misfortune you imitated would become a reality. As such, the idea of lying about a child being sick is simply unthinkable.
Apparently, one Australian couple didn’t receive this lesson. They recently pretended doctors had diagnosed their 6-year-old son with cancer and that he was undergoing treatment. Their plan was to collect donations.
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An unnamed mother and father, both 44, are spending Christmas in serious legal trouble. Authorities learned that they shaved their son’s head and eyebrows in an attempt to raise money for his nonexistent cancer treatment, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
They were both charged with one aggravated count of committing an act likely to cause harm. A judge has denied the father bail.
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Now, the parents of two are facing a potential seven-year stint behind bars if they receive the maximum sentence. In the middle of their scam, they were able to raise the equivalent of $38,200, People reports. The couple used online platforms and their son’s school to raise money, according to The Sydney Herald.
To convince people that their child was truly ill, they shaved his head and placed him in a wheelchair with bandages to mimic those used in radiation therapy treatments. The deception might have gone further than just the community.
During a news conference, South Australia Police’s Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia claimed, “the couple caused psychological harm to their child by falsely purporting a cancer diagnosis.” An investigation confirmed that the child was not seeking any medical attention. “We believe this farce illness is causing serious and significant psychological harm to the child and their sibling,” the officer added.
The two children now receive daily risk assessments to ensure their safety. Authorities believe the boy’s sibling is between 6 and 12 years old. DeCandia said the boy will need ongoing support because “initially thinking you’ve got cancer, and you’re not well, would be quite devastating.”
While the mother is on house arrest, according to the The Sydney Morning Herald, her husband remains in jail. Magistrate Alison Adair believed the mother was less involved in the scheme than the father. He will appear in court on December 20, 2024, while the mother will stand before a judge on January 6. The children are living with a relative.
