Mother Arrested After Allegedly Injecting Feces Into Her Child's IV While Hospitalized

A mother has been taken into custody after authorities say she injected feces into her child’s intravenous line at a children’s hospital in Ohio. The allegation has shocked many, as it involves a serious breach of medical safety inside a facility meant to protect and care for children.

Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus reported the mother after staff members said they first noticed her trying to inject what they described as a 'foreign substance' into her daughter’s IV drip on February 6. Medical workers grew concerned after observing her behavior near the child’s treatment equipment.

Tiffany Le Sueur, 35, was then placed under closer observation during her visits to her child’s hospital room, following guidance from law enforcement. Authorities advised hospital staff to monitor her interactions to ensure the child’s safety.

However, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Columbus Dispatch, Le Sueur allegedly attempted again to inject what appeared to be feces into the IV line on February 8. The complaint outlines a second incident that raised even more alarm among hospital staff and officers.

At 8:45 p.m., a Columbus police officer from the department’s Domestic Violence Unit was contacted by another officer. That officer reported seeing the mother holding a syringe along with a substance they believed to be fecal matter.

The complaint also states that hospital security footage shows Le Sueur walking into a bathroom with an empty cup. When she came back out, the cup was reportedly filled with fecal matter, according to investigators who reviewed the video.

Documents further claim that she then drew the substance into a syringe and injected it into an IV line connected to her child’s hand. The IV line was part of the child’s medical treatment, making the alleged act especially dangerous.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that Le Sueur is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on February 19. A Franklin County judge set her bond at $250,000.

According to The Independent, her bail conditions also prohibit her from having any unsupervised contact with minors. This restriction remains in place while the case moves through the court system.

Tiffany Le Sueur was charged for allegedly injecting her child's IV line with feces ABC 6

Nationwide Children's Hospital explains on its website that it stands for child advocacy and patient care. The hospital states: "We're committed to providing the highest quality care for patients and whole child wellness, advocacy for children and families, research discoveries and education of patients, families, team members and the community."

"Nationwide Children's is one of the best children's hospitals in the country - but it is so much more."

A spokesperson for Nationwide Children's Hospital told UNILAD: "Due to patient privacy, we are unable to confirm or provide information about specific patients."

Tiffany is due back in court at the end of the month Franklin County Sheriff's Office

Legal experts at ARFAA Law Group explain that introducing fecal matter into an IV line creates an emergency. This kind of contamination can enter directly into the bloodstream and expose the patient to harmful bacteria, which can quickly lead to life-threatening complications.

The last widely reported case of a similar incident happened in 2019. In that case, Tiffany Alberts injected feces into her 15-year-old son’s IV drip in Indiana.

According to a Marion County police affidavit, her son had been undergoing treatment for leukemia since August 2016. He relied on medical care and IV treatments as part of his recovery process.

After being discharged from the hospital, the boy returned just days later with serious symptoms. He had developed a fever and was experiencing vomiting and diarrhea.

Blood tests later revealed that he had a bacterial infection and sepsis. Doctors also found bacteria that is commonly present in feces, which raised immediate concern among medical staff.

From that point, hospital staff closely monitored his IV lines. They later reported catching his mother in the act of injecting feces into the line.

She was later sentenced to seven years in prison for her actions.