Defence counsel for Tamara Lovett, the Calgary mother accused of criminal negligence in the death of her son, told the court that the woman was not trying to harm her son and was genuinely trying to help him get better.

Ryan Lovett was suffering from a strep infection that kept him bedridden for 10 days.

Tamara Lovett believed that he was merely ill with a cold or flu so had been treating him with holistic remedies including oil of oregano and dandelion tea instead of antibiotics.

However, the infection progressed to the point where the boy’s organs began to shut down.

He died in March 2013, after Lovett called 911 for help when he collapsed and began to convulse.

Lovett's defence lawyer Alain Hepner read from the testimony of family and friends during his final arguments, saying that she never 'abandoned' him.

Justice Kristine Eidsvik questioned Hepner during his statements, asking if he 'seriously suggested' that Lovett shouldn't have sent Ryan to see a doctor.

She also said that she have at least taken him to the Sheldon Chumir Centre, a clinic located very close to her home.

Hepner told the court that Lovett merely did the best she could and conceded that she should have taken him to a doctor.

He added that the justice system, however, should not condemn the 'morally innocent'.

Earlier this week, Crown prosecutor Jonathan Hak told Lovett she is responsible for Ryan's death.

"Your failure to get medical care for your son resulted in his death. How can you say you weren't harming your child?" he asked.

"I did not realize ... how bad it was until after the fact and to this day I live with that," Lovett said.

"I failed and I admit that."

The 47-year-old mother told the court during the trial this week that she didn’t know he was that ill and admitted that she ‘failed’ as a mother.

"I never thought he had anything that I couldn't treat. I never expected him to do anything but get better. I had no idea," she said.

"As a mother, you never want to have that happen and, yeah, I failed because I didn't know he was that sick. I just thought he was sick. I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

Doctors during the trial stated that he died of ‘overwhelming sepsis and parainfluenza’ brought on by the untreated strep infection.

Ryan never saw a doctor and had no health card or birth certificate.

Justice Kristine Eidsvik has reserved her decision until the new year.

(With files from the Canadian Press)