Canadian mom sentenced to 3 years after son dies from strep throat infection

A Canadian woman was sentenced to three years in prison Friday after she failed to take her 7-year-old to a doctor for treatment of a strep throat infection, according to reports. 

Tamara Lovett, 48, was found guilty in January of criminal negligence in her son's death, and was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Company.  

Lovett's son, Ryan, was bedridden for 10 days in 2013 while he suffered from a strep throat infection. Instead of seeking medical care, Lovett treated her son with holistic methods, including dandelion tea and oil of oregano, according to court testimony. 

Lovett did not call 911 until she found her son on the floor of her Calgary apartment, the Huffington Post Canada reported. 

During the trial, doctors testified that Ryan could have been successfully treated with antibiotics. 

More: Toddlers in cages: Virginia mom indicted on 5 counts of child abuse

More: Shattered faith: Nearly 100 sex abuse suits against Catholic priests rock island of Guam

Justice Kristine Eidsvik said Lovett's actions caused her son's "senseless death."

"[Ryan] died an excruciating, unnecessary death," Eidsvik said. "Her failure to bring him to a medical doctor caused his death."

Lovett said she cannot begin to forgive herself for Ryan's death and hopes others will learn from her "ignorance." 

Prosecutor Jonathan Hak said if anything can come out of the case it should be that parents must take their child to a health professional if they are ill.

"If your child is not getting better, you are legally and morally bound to take your child to an actual doctor for actual medical care," Hak said, CBC reported.