Abstract
Since its initial citing as Munchausen syndrome by Proxy (Meadow, Lancet 2(8033):343–345, 1977), many attempts to bring a consensus among medical professionals on the labeling of the condition have resulted in varied proposed and controversial nomenclatures, including pediatric condition falsification (Ayoub et al., Child Maltreat 7(2):105–111, 2002), child abuse in a medical setting (Stirling and Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, Pediatrics 119(5):1026–1030, 2007), medical child abuse, and caregiver-fabricated illness in a child (Flaherty et al., Pediatrics 132(3):590–597, 2013). Regardless of the selected term, this is an unusual form of child maltreatment in which harm or potential harm is enacted onto the child by using or manipulating the medical system at the instigation of the caregiver. Medical child abuse (MCA) is a serious and potentially fatal form of child abuse (Roesler and Jenny, Medical child abuse: Beyond Munchausen syndrome by proxy. American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, 2009). The use of direct, clear terminology in the description of this form of child maltreatment is necessary when communication of a complicated medical case to the nonmedical child protective, investigating, and prosecutorial agencies may involve actions necessary to ensure the continued safety and protection of the child.
Keywords
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Aranibar, H., & Cerda, M. (2005). Hypoglycemic seizure in Munchausen by proxy syndrome. Pediatric Emergency Care, 21(6), 378–379.
Ayoub, C., Alexander, R., Beck, D., Bursch, B., Feldman, K., Libow, J., et al. (2002). Position paper: Definitional issues in Munchausen by proxy. Child Maltreatment, 7(2), 105–111.
Boyd, A., Ritchie, C., & Likhari, S. (2014). Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen by proxy in dermatology. Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, 71(2), 376–381.
Brown, A., Gonzalez, G., Wiester, R., Kelley, M., & Feldman, K. W. (2014). Care taker blogs in caregiver-fabricated illness in a child: A window on the caretaker’s thinking? Child Abuse and Neglect, 38(3), 488–497.
Bursch, B., Schreier, H. A., Ayoub, C. C., Libow, J. A., Sanders, M. J., & Yorker, B. C. (2008). Further thoughts on “Beyond Munchausen by proxy: Identification and treatment of child abuse in a medical setting.” Letter to the Editor. Pediatrics, 121(2), 444–445.
Carter, K., Izsak, E., & Marlow, J. (2006). Munchausen syndrome by proxy caused by ipecac poisoning. Pediatric Emergency Care, 22(9), 655–656.
de Ridder, L., & Hoekstra, J. (2000). Manifestations of Munchausen syndrome by proxy in pediatric gastroenterology. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 31(2), 2008–2011.
Feldman, M. (2000). Munchausen by internet: Detecting factitious illness and crisis on the internet. Southern Medical Journal, 93(7), 669–672.
Flaherty, E. G., MacMillan, H. L., & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (2013). Caregiver-fabricated illness in a child: A manifestation of child maltreatment. Pediatrics, 132(3), 590–597.
Hall, D., Eubanks, L., Meyyazhagan, L., Kenney, R., & Johnson, S. (2000). Evaluation of covert video surveillance in the diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy: Lessons from 41 cases. Pediatrics, 105(6), 1305–1312.
Holstege, C., & Dobmeier, S. (2006). Criminal poisoning: Munchausen by proxy. Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, 26(1), 243–253.
Levin, A. V., & Sheridan, M. S. (Eds.). (1995). Munchausen syndrome by proxy: Issues in diagnosis and treatment. New York: Lexington Books.
McGuire, T., & Feldman, K. (1989). Psychologic morbidity of children subjected to Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Pediatrics, 83(2), 289–292.
Meadow, R. (1977). The hinterland of child abuse. Lancet, 2(8033), 343–345.
Mian, M. (1995). A multidisciplinary approach. In A. V. Levin & A. S. Sheridan (Eds.), Munchausen syndrome by proxy: Issues in diagnosis and treatment. New York: Lexington Books.
Roesler, T. A., & Jenny, C. (2009). Medical child abuse: Beyond Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Elk Grove Village: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Rosenberg, D. (1987). Web of deceit: A literature review of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Child Abuse and Neglect, 11(4), 547–563.
Sanders, M., & Bursch, B. (2002). Forensic assessment of illness falsification, Munchausen by proxy, and factitious disorder, NOS. Child Maltreatment, 7(2), 112–124.
Sheridan, M. (2003). The deceit continues: An updated literature review of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(4), 431–451.
Southall, D., & Samuels, M. (1996). Guidelines for the multi-agency management of patients suspected or at risk of suffering from life-threatening abuse resulting in cyanotic-apnoeic episodes. Journal of Medical Ethics, 22(1), 16–21.
Southall, D. S., Rees, S., Lang, M., & Warner, J. S. (1987). Apnoeic episodes induced by smothering: Two cases identified by covert video surveillance. British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed), 294(6588), 1637–1641.
Squires, J., & Squires, R. (2010). Munchausen syndrome by proxy: Ongoing clinical challenges. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 51(3), 248–253.
Stirling, J., Jr., & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (2007). Beyond Munchausen syndrome by proxy: Identification and treatment of child abuse in a medical setting. Pediatrics, 119(5), 1026–1030.
Trent, M. (2008). A horrific case of “medical child abuse”. The Prosecutor, 38, 1–3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Isaac, R. (2019). Medical Child Abuse. In: Giardino, A., Lyn, M., Giardino, E. (eds) A Practical Guide to the Evaluation of Child Physical Abuse and Neglect. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00635-8_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00635-8_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-00634-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-00635-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)