Forums / Discussion / Serious Debate

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, as defined by Wikipedia, is "a behaviour pattern in which a caregiver fabricates, exaggerates, or induces mental or physical health problems in those who are in their care. With deception at its core, this behaviour is an elusive, potentially lethal, and frequently misunderstood form of child abuse or medical neglect that has been difficult to define, detect, and confirm."

What this means is that a patient with this condition will fabricate illness not on themselves like traditional Muchausen Syndrome but rather onto someone in their care, usually a child, for the sake of obtaining attention from others. Of course, it can be almost universally agreed upon that this behaviour is abominable and the fact that it is a condition does not absolve it of its horrible nature.

However, considering that it is a recognized pathology, it may be possible to treat these individuals before they end up harming others. The condition also causes emotional distress that leads to this behaviour, as is observed in traditional Munchausen syndrome as well. In other cases, people may be misdiagnosed with this condition if a child is legitimately ill with unknown cause, and due to some doctor's impatience with unknown conditions, this may lead to a faulty diagnosis.

Discuss the ethical problems surrounding this condition. Also, feel free to discuss Munchausen Syndrome as well.

I sometimes wonder if my older sister could have Munchausen. She's a confirmed hypochondriac, but she had such emotional issues throughout her childhood that she still doesn't act normal at all. Her dad/his side (she and my other older sister have a different dad) really obviously preferred my other sister over her for her whole life and still do, it's pretty sad. She genuinely believes she's hurt though.

The ethical issues are always front and center for me. I tell my parents all the time that they need to stop appeasing her and get her help, but she's over 30, what are they going to do? They can't force her. I really wish they were able to commit her because she genuinely needs help or she's going to waste her entire life. The only meds she'll willingly take are depression pills (which only make her barely tolerable) and pain meds.

ed: I forgot one other thing. There's also the ethics of her doctors. Most of them I can't blame, they blatantly tell her nothing is wrong with her, and when they start to tell her she needs therapy she switches doctors. But she's got a corrupt chiropractor that encourages her. He's got her completely convinced her back is the back of a 90 year old woman's, he's the only doctor she's kept for more than a few months. When I was home last winter break she leaned over to pick up my dog off her bed and then screamed and said she dislocated a disc or some shit and wouldn't move for days.

If it's a mental illness that can cause the afflicted to harm others, they should be admitted to a mental hospital and receive treatment.

How common is this for Doctors to consider it over another lesser known disease with a strange case?