Hamilton, Ohio – A 43-year-old mother from Ohio is facing serious accusations after prosecutors claimed she repeatedly brought her 2-year-old son to hospitals for conditions he did not have and even administered insulin without medical need. The case has sparked widespread concern about alleged medical abuse, unnecessary treatments and the potential dangers of hospital shopping.
Incident Overview
According to prosecutors, Jennifer Parker, 43, took her toddler to various hospitals more than 20 times since his birth, often reporting symptoms that medical professionals could not confirm. Officials allege that Parker’s actions led to repeated hospitalizations despite no underlying medical conditions.
An arraignment was held this week where Parker pleaded not guilty to three counts of child endangerment. She is currently being held on $50,000 bond at the Butler County Jail.
The allegations first came to light after reports from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic, both of which raised concerns about Parker’s behavior and the child’s repeated admissions.
Timeline of Events
Prosecutors stated in court that Parker’s son had been hospitalized “over 20 times” while under her care. These admissions reportedly began in infancy and continued until early this year.
In May, authorities removed the child and Parker’s other children from her custody. According to prosecutors, the boy has not been hospitalized even once since then, suggesting that many of his previous medical episodes may have been the result of unnecessary intervention rather than genuine illness.
Details From Prosecutors and Hospitals
Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Lindsay Sheehan outlined several disturbing allegations about Parker’s behavior inside hospitals. According to Sheehan:
“Since birth, under Miss Parker’s care, this child, now 2, has been hospitalized over 20 times.”
Sheehan further stated that medical staff had witnessed Parker interfering with the child’s feeding process.
Hospitals reported:
- Cut feeding lines
- Clamped feeding tubes
- Providing insulin or glucose unnecessarily
- Blocking oral feeding options
- Insisting the child remain on a feeding tube despite showing clear ability to eat normally
Regarding the feeding tube, Sheehan told the court that the boy likely did not need it and that Parker allegedly refused to transition him to standard feeding even when medically recommended.
Witness and Family Statements
Parker has publicly denied wrongdoing. In a Facebook post dated Nov. 10, she suggested she was not the only parent accused under similar circumstances at the hospital:
“One parent not only was accused of the exact same thing by the exact same inpatient team… I know there are more mothers and parents and grandparents who are suffering the same allegations.”
Her fiancé, Michael Carpenter, who is also the father of the boy, defended her after the court hearing. He told local media that Parker is:
“a caring mother that wanted the best for her children.”
Carpenter claimed their son had “health issues since birth” and that they struggled to find the right specialists and treatment plans.
Additional Context: Understanding Medical Abuse
Cases involving unnecessary medical treatment—sometimes referred to as Medical Child Abuse or Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy—can be difficult to detect because they often involve multiple hospital visits, inconsistent symptoms and conflicting parental reports.
Medical experts warn that giving a child unneeded insulin can be extremely dangerous. It may cause seizures, loss of consciousness and life-threatening drops in blood sugar.
Repeated hospital visits not only endanger the child physically but also create emotional and developmental instability.
Current Status and Next Steps
Parker was arrested on Monday and remains in custody. She has been ordered to avoid all contact with her children, who are currently under the care of Butler County Children Services.
Her next court date—scheduled as a plea or trial setting—is on Nov. 24.
Conclusion
The case has raised serious questions about child welfare, hospital reporting and the challenges of identifying medical abuse. As the legal process moves forward, investigators will continue evaluating the child’s medical history and the decisions made during his care.
If you have thoughts or experiences related to medical child abuse, or have witnessed similar cases in your community, share your experiences in the comments below.
