A Tulsa woman was accused Thursday of “willfully or maliciously subjecting” her daughter to repeated unnecessary medical visits, hospitalizations and procedures over a one-year period.
Tonya N. Thomas, 26, was charged in Tulsa County District Court with “child abuse by Munchausen syndrome by proxy.”
The charge is reserved for those who are suspected of falsely reporting a child’s medical condition in order to gain attention or derive some sort of benefit.
Thomas allegedly caused the child to undergo procedures in 2012 such as a lumbar puncture, four CT scans, an echocardiogram, a renal ultrasound and X-rays.
The charge also alleges that Thomas caused the child, who was 5 to 6 years old at the time, to undergo urine cultures, electrolyte testing, bloodwork and other lab tests.
This is the second such case to be filed in Tulsa County District Court within a month’s time.
Victoria Lynn Lee, 37, was charged on May 24 with causing her daughter to undergo “numerous and unnecessary medical procedures” from when the child was a newborn until she was 6 years old.
The charge alleges that Lee’s child underwent a lumbar puncture, electrocardiograms, CT scans, bladder studies, six MRIs and “numerous sessions of physical therapy and doctor visits.”
Lee pleaded not guilty Thursday, and a preliminary hearing was set in her case for Aug. 1, records show.
Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney Sarah McAmis has been listed as the prosecutor in both of the pending Tulsa County cases.
McAmis also prosecuted a similar case in Oklahoma County in 2003. In that prosecution, a woman was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
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