What's really upsetting is that poor Olivia had multiple surgeries, had a feeding tube put in, had an ostomy bag put in, supposedly suffered from a variety of diseases, and no doctor suspected Munchausen by proxy? This child could have been saved as far as I am concerned. The clues were there if only somebody followed them.
Oh no. I think multiple doctors thought something was wrong but it’s hard to confront and once they do these moms tend to bounce to another doctor.
But they’re all really good at fooling doctors for a long time:
“While it's thought that around 1% of the population has
Munchausen syndrome by proxy, it's likely under diagnosed because those with the disorder are master manipulators. People with
Munchausen syndrome by proxy appear to be dedicated caretakers, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Because of this, they are often the
lastpeople to be suspected of abusing someone in their care.
These people stay by the bedside of loved ones, appear knowledgable about medical conditions, and seem genuinely concerned. However, people with Munchausen syndrome by proxy often contaminate lab tests or falsify medical records. In addition, they are fully aware that what they are doing is wrong, but will deny any and all accusations if they are confronted. Often people are afraid to challenge caregivers who seem devoted, even if some of what they say is absurd.”
10 Facts About Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy That Go Beyond “The Act”
Much more at link about who, what other things they lie about, why, etc.
“There are several reasons MSBP is difficult to identify. The perpetrator, normally the mother, appears to be the perfect, loving, committed parent. What mother doesn’t rush her child to the hospital if he or she is ill, whenever necessary? What mother doesn’t want to be deeply involved with her child’s medical care and treatment, to the point of sacrificing her own health and well-being?
The symptoms of the young MSBP victims are those common to childhood ailments everywhere: Fevers, diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, allergies, infections, etc. Why would any nurse or doctor attribute these symptoms to anything but normal childhood sicknesses? Even the more serious of symptoms such as seizures, malnutrition, and failure to thrive don’t raise the Munchausen’s flag immediately. What choice does a doctor have but accept the patient history provided by the mother and father?
Even though identifying MSBP has its challenges, and one or two of the following symptoms alone don’t conclusively diagnose the syndrome, here are the classic red flags to watch for:”
Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome: What Healthcare Workers Should Know
About 500 new cases of fabricated or forced illness, commonly known as Munchausen by proxy syndrome, go undetected in Britain each year, according to experts. The condition is rarely diagnosed because healthcare officials are “fearful of raising their head above the parapet”, according to Paul Davis, chairman of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health working group on the problem.
“These cases are incredibly difficult to detect as doctors develop quite a close relationship with the parent of their patient,” Dr Davis said. “The parents are not stupid. They often come up with symptoms that they know the doctor cannot double-check.
Parents fool doctors with fake illnesses
Can you tell if you are being lied to by a parent/caregiver? Research has consistently found that conscious assessments of veracity are only slightly more accurate than chance.6Published case reports suggest that any disorder can be successfully falsified. One describes a case of factitious cystic fibrosis that included a falsified history, altered sweat tests and stool fat analyses, and sputum samples stolen from cystic fibrosis patients.7 Another describes a patient with factitious chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction who received a small-bowel transplant.8 Falsified mental health problems have included learning disorders, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder.9,10
Munchausen by Proxy and Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another
