The parents called an ambulance to their home in 2008 when Louise became listless but by the time the paramedics arrived the child was already dead.
Her parents weren't just vegans, a lifestyle which can be perfectly healthy if entered into full appraised of the implications of an animal product free lifestyle. Veganism where babies are concerned is always going to be contentious. However, Louise chances were further reduced when her parents decided that they would forego practical medical advice and rely instead on remedies that they read in books.
Louise, even by 11 months, had never eaten solids as Sergine Le Moaligou was still giving her the breast. Louise, as well as being chronically underweight was also found to be deficient in vitamins A and B12, deficiencies which could easily be related to her mother's dietary habits. Her deficiencies would have left her vulnerable to infections and eventually she died from a pneumonia related illness.
Prosecution lawyers are treating the case very carefully as it could be seen as impinging on the parents; lifestyle choices. As Sergine was only able to pass on the vitamins she had in her own system her own restrictive diet was incapable of keeping both of them alive. Louise should have been weaned onto solid food months previously to her death. Because the Le Moaligous were mistrustful of traditional doctors and normal medicine they took all their advice from a book which they owned, a fact that meant they missed the signs that Louise was in distress and severe physical danger.
When they did take the child to a clinic for her nine month check-up the doctor advised them to take the girl to a hospital immediately as she was losing weight and appeared to be suffering from bronchitis. What they did instead was treat her with poultices made from cabbage, mustard and camphor. They also washed her in earth and clay instead of bathing her in water.
Prosecution lawyer Anne Laure Sandretto addressed the court in Amiens, telling them that the cause of the B12 deficiency could be linked to the mother’s eating habits while taking care not to appear to criticise the eating habits of the family.
When Louise died the Le Moaligou family also included a healthy teenage girl and the family was running an organic food business. Stephane Daquo admitted that the family didn't follow the doctor's advice to take the bay to hospital when she was taken for her check-up and Patrick Quenel, M. Le Moaligou's lawyer said that they were completely aware of the mistakes which they had made and that they remain strict vegans.
The charges that have been brought against them carry a maximum term of 30 years in prison if convicted.
In many other parts of the world vegetarianism is seen as a normal dietary choice while veganism is regarded as being a little more odd. In France however, the atmosphere is somewhat different, vegetarians are regarded as being extremely strange if not rather mad and veganism is hardly heard of and when it is it is regarded as utterly irrational. The case will be the first in France where the vegan lifestyle is called into question in such a way and it will cause debate about whether the vegan diet is really healthy.
As well as a long term commitment to a lifestyle which will be considered as verging on insanity by most of their peers it should also be considered that the parents refused to seek adequate medical care for two months, if the doctor had any further concerns for the health of the child they should have alerted the authorities to the neglect of the child rather than waiting for the demise of the girl before stating that they had been warned.
dan Cash is a vegetarian feature writer who, like the French, regards veganism as being irrational. Of course there is much debate to be had on the issue but it's impossible to get a decent vegan Chinese in Sheffield where he lives although vegetarian is fine. If you know where to lok you can get vegan takeaways in Bristol and they are yummers, but what aboutthe eggfried rice?