Munchausen by Proxy

Munchausen by proxy is a disorder also commonly referred to as medical child abuse, caregiver-fabricated illness, or factitious disorder by proxy. Currently, Thomas A. Roesler and Carole Jenny have conceptualized Munchausen by proxy as a type of child abuse or maltreatment in which a child is subjected to unnecessary and potentially harmful medical treatment because of the falsification or induction of sickness by a caregiver. Munchausen by proxy is considered a diagnosable form of abuse that carries with it a high risk for morbidity and mortality. Children exposed to this kind of maltreatment are subject to harm in possibly two distinct ways: the induction of illness by the caregiver and the unnecessary medical treatment and investigation used to identify the cause of the illness. This ...