Maternal Instinct Awry

I'm puzzled by a story of a four year old boy who mother placed him on the floor of an Accident and Emergency Unit, photographed him in that position, placed the picture in the public domain, and then deplored the consequent publicity.

I gather mother and child had a very long wait for attention, but it would have been kinder to sit the lad on her knee and cuddle him, and find another way to protest.