A herbalist sentenced after the death of a diabetic boy recommended not to use insulin

An herbalist was sentenced to prison after the death of a 13-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes for whom he recommended a herbal treatment instead of a life-saving insulin, said Monday Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer.

In August 2014, Timothy Morrow visited the boy, who was then severely suffering from diabetes complications, and asked his parents not to give him insulin prescribed by a pediatrician. Instead, Morrow recommended the herbal products that he sold.

The boy died the day after a cardiac arrest, which, according to a medical examiner, could have been prevented through appropriate medical treatment, according to the statement from the office of Feuer.

"This case highlights the serious health and safety risks associated with taking over medical advice by a unlicensed person and the appropriate training that accompanies it," said Feuer. in a statement released Monday.

Morrow was sentenced to 120 days in jail after being found guilty of practicing medicine without a license. He also did not plead against another charge of child abuse. According to Frank Mateljan, spokesman for the city prosecutor's office, these two charges constitute a crime.

In addition, Morrow will be on informal probation for 48 months, pay a $ 5,000 fine, include warning labels on his own herbal products, cover the cost of the boy's funeral, and follow a counseling program. a year for child abusers. Morrow was informed that if he was involved in deaths in the future, he could face murder charges.

Morrow will also have to remove any support from its medicinal herb supporter for medical treatments. For example, in YouTube videos he says that "insulin is a poison to the system" and that watermelon, zucchini and green beans are "natural insulin".

CNN's subsidiary KABC said the child's mother, Maria Madrigal, said at the trial this month that she trusted Morrow's medical council and attended her classes.

"He said no, no, do not listen to them, that everything was fine," said Madrigal. "He assured me that his life was not in danger."

She does not face charges, according to Mateljan.