Mother admits giving baby morphine

Published: Dec. 31, 2009 at 3:49 PM

HILLSBORO, Ore., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A 25-year-old Oregon woman has pleaded guilty to charges she gave her 2-month-old daughter morphine, a repeat of an earlier episode with her infant son.

The (Portland) Oregonian reported Sara Rose Dillard pleaded guilty Wednesday and presiding Washington County Circuit Judge Mark Gardner sentenced her to 7 1/2 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Dillard, a former medical assistant from Beaverton, gave her infant daughter a high dose of morphine last June in an attempt to garner the attention of the child's father, cardiologist Wallace Lai.

"She knew the baby would go into respiratory distress and bring a lot of attention to her and her baby because she'd put herself through respiratory distress before," prosecutor Megan Johnson said.

Dillard also was convicted in 2005 of giving her then-11-month-old son a high dose of the opiate. She served six months in jail and was given five years probation.

The Oregonian said Dillard admitted that incident also was an attempt to get the attention of the child's father.

In addition to her new prison sentence, Dillard will be required to undergo mental health counseling and have no contact with her children without required consent once she is released.

From: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/12/31/Mother-admits-giving-baby-morphine/UPI-39821262292594/