A woman has been sentenced to three years in jail for attempting to harm her elderly mother in a hospital using pillows and a knife. Susan Hardwick, 65, was heard by medical staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary saying, “I want to kill her,” as she tried to suffocate her mother with a pillow. The incident occurred while Joan Hardwick, 89, was preparing for discharge to a care home and was not in critical condition.
Despite being well, Joan’s daughter expressed to hospital staff that her mother had no quality of life, prompting her actions. Susan, who has cerebral palsy and is undergoing cancer treatment, admitted to attempted murder following a lengthy evaluation of her mental capacity.
During sentencing, the judge acknowledged Susan’s misunderstanding of the situation, believing her mother was being sent back to a hospital where she had received poor treatment. The judge attributed Susan’s actions to her mental disability and rigid thought process, stating she may have viewed the act as merciful at the time.
Joan Hardwick, who had been hospitalized for three weeks following a stroke, sustained superficial cuts during the incident. Susan was cooperative with security, expressing her intentions to end her mother’s life due to perceived quality of life issues. While Joan is now safe in a care home, the court deliberated on whether Susan genuinely believed she was acting out of mercy.
Susan’s defense highlighted her lifelong dependency on her mother due to cerebral palsy, communication difficulties, and mobility issues. The court learned of the co-dependent relationship between Susan and her mother, emphasizing Susan’s fixation on her mother’s potential return to a hospital. The central question remained whether Susan’s actions stemmed from a genuine belief in showing mercy.