There are many famous cases of Munchausen syndrome. Perhaps the most publicized recent case is that of Dee Dee Blanchard. Blanchard kept her daughter Gypsy in a wheelchair throughout her life. In addition, Blanchard claimed Gypsy had leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other ailments.
When she was old enough, she made it clear she did not want to be in the spotlight. Now 27, she is happily married and has fully reunited with her parents, Kathy and Craig Bush, who live in Georgia, and her brothers, Matthew and Jason.
Factitious disorder imposed on another (previously called Munchausen syndrome by proxy) is when someone falsely claims that another person has physical or psychological signs or symptoms of illness, or causes injury or disease in another person with the intention of deceiving others.
Factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA) formerly Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSP) is a mental illness in which a person acts as if an individual he or she is caring for has a physical or mental illness when the person is not really sick.
In 1996, Jennifer was removed from her parents' home and has been in foster care since. Her feeding tube was removed shortly after she was taken from her parents and prosecutors say she has been living a normal life, free of hospitals and drugs, ever since. She is now 12 years old.
For years, Jennifer Bush had been in and out of hospitals. By the time she was 8, she had been hospitalized more than 200 times, and had undergone more than 40 surgeries. Doctors had removed her gallbladder, her appendix and part of her intestines. She was often nourished through feeding tubes.
The warning signs of MSP in the caretaker include:attention-seeking behavior.striving to appear self-sacrificing and devoted.becoming overly involved with doctors and medical staff.refusing to leave the child's side.exaggerating the child's symptoms or speaking for the child.More items...
According to DSM 5, the following criteria must be met in order to make the diagnosis of FDIA:The Perpetrator engages in the deceptive falsification of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, or of induction of injury or disease in another;The Perpetrator presents the victim to other as ill, impaired or injured;More items...•
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy allegations are extremely serious. If charged with child abuse, a parent may lose custody of his or her child. If convicted, serious criminal penalties will follow, including long-term imprisonment and heavy fines.
Call 911 if you know a child who is in immediate danger because of abuse or neglect. You can also call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental illness and a form of child abuse. The caretaker of a child, most often a mother, either makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the child is sick.
Fabricated or induced illness (FII) is a rare form of child abuse. It happens when a parent or carer exaggerates or deliberately causes symptoms of illness in the child.