A woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to harm her elderly mother at a hospital using pillows and a knife. The incident took place at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), where medical staff witnessed Susan Hardwick, 65, expressing her intent to harm her mother. Her mother, Joan Hardwick, 89 at the time, was about to be discharged to a care home and was not in critical condition. Susan Hardwick, who pleaded guilty to attempted murder, cited her mother’s quality of life as a reason for her actions.
During the sentencing, it was noted that Susan Hardwick, who has cerebral palsy and is undergoing cancer treatment, may have misunderstood the situation and thought her mother was being transferred to a hospital with poor treatment. The judge acknowledged Susan’s mental disability and rigid thought process, suggesting she may have believed her actions were merciful.
Joan Hardwick, who had been at DRI for three weeks following treatment for a stroke at Mexborough Montague Hospital, sustained superficial cuts during the incident. Susan Hardwick expressed her belief that her mother’s care was the motive behind her actions. The court also heard about Susan’s lifelong dependency on her mother due to her cerebral palsy and other health issues.
Susan’s defense attorney emphasized her long-standing co-dependency with her mother and her fixation on the idea of her mother returning to Mexborough hospital. The defense raised the question of whether Susan genuinely believed she was acting out of mercy. The case was described as a unique and troubling one by the judge, highlighting Susan’s complex circumstances and motivations behind the attempted harm.
