Naturopath charged after baby boy 'near death' admitted to Sydney hospital

A Sydney naturopath will face court over the treatment plan she allegedly devised for a baby boy, who police say was malnourished and close to death when he was admitted to hospital.

The eight-month-old boy was suffering from eczema when his mother consulted the naturopath in April for advice about alternative health treatments for her son, police said.

Police will allege Marilyn Bodnar, 59, who is also a registered nurse and a midwife, advised the child's mother to stop all medical and dermatological treatments for the child.
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Child abuse squad detectives went to a property in Leppington, in Sydney's south-west, and arrested the self proclaimed naturopath about 7.30am on Thursday.

Ms Bodnar was taken to Narellan police station and charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in principle in the second degree, and aiding, abetting or failing to provide for a child, causing danger of death.

The baby's mother is already before the courts on charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, and failing to provide for a child, causing danger of death.


Naturopath charged after baby boy 'near death' admitted to Sydney hospital