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No one would disagree that over diagnosis of child abuse, including MBP, can lead to tragic results. It is a truism that many middle class parents, in particular health care professionals, say they are disinclined to take their children to Casualty departments for fear of an inappropriate diagnosis of child abuse. The other end of the spectrum is when a person who has just given expert evidence in a murder trial where the issue was the alleged killing of a child by a parent describes how they have been rung up and told: "We are going to do the same to you that we did to David Southall". Obviously, such a telephone call would only be made by a disturbed and irresponsible person who could have no position of responsibility in any support group and who would be expelled from membership if they were to make such a telephone call. I am quite sure that no reputable advocacy or support group for parents accused of abusing their children would in any way support the harassment of those trying to do their best by investigating the homicide of children and infants. Such activity, apart from being illegal, would not be compatible with charitable status. Robert Forrest Copyright A R W Forrest 1999. The copying or reposting of this message in whole or in part is not permitted. You may download one copy to your own computer for personal review only. No implicit or explicit licence for the use of this message for any other purpose has been or will be granted by the copyright owner. If you do not accept the terms of this licence you must immediately delete this message in its entirety, including any back up copies, from your computer system. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%