Munchausen disease by proxy is an a diagnosis which, if
made in error can blight the life of caring parents whose
children have diseases which are difficult to diagnose. Not
only are their children sick but they may be taken away.
At the age of two my son was admitted to hospital after a
week of vomiting. As soon as he was admitted the vomiting
stopped and he was OK.
A year later he was admitted again with the same symptoms.
It was obvious from the reactions of the staff that they
suspected us. Their attitude to us changed when they found
that he had an intestinal obstruction due to adhesions from
previous surgery and needed an urgent operation. When we
complained about the treatment we found that some of the
notes from the previous incident had disappeared. Since then I
have distrusted Munchausen by proxy diagnoses.
Mike Collins
> I don't know about support groups, but another recent reference
> is:
>
> RJ McClure et al. Epidemiology of Munchausen syndrome by proxy,
> non-accidental poisoning, and non-accidental suffocation. Arch
> Dis Childh 1996;75:57-61.
>
> Hope this is of help
>
> Bob Flanagan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: g.challand [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 17 December 1999 14:22
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Munchausen's by proxy
>
>
> A colleague who works as a counselor in a local children's clinic
> has come across a probable case of Munchausen's by proxy. She has
> asked me 1. Is there a review of the psychology of this
> condition, and 2. Are there any Munchausen's-by-proxy support
> groups. Can anyone help?
>
> Best wishes
> Gordon Challand
Mike Collins MLSO3
Clinical Biochemistry & Immunology
The General Infirmary at Leeds,
Old Medical School, Thoresby Place
Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
[log in to unmask]
44 (0) 113 392 2915
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