Citation

Jureidini JN, Shafer AT, Donald TG. Med. J. Aust. 2003; 178(3): 130-132.

Affiliation

Department of Psychological Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia. jureidini@healthyskepticism.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Australian Medical Association, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12558485

Abstract

Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technological paediatrics to facilitate the form of child abuse labelled "Munchausen by proxy syndrome". Examining this form of child abuse highlights possible shortcomings of medical practice. The primary medical tasks of diagnosing and curing illness and of preventing suffering are sometimes overridden by other motivations of which doctors may not be fully aware. More open discussion of what motivates health professionals in their work may improve medical practice and lead to a reduced incidence of Munchausen by proxy syndrome.

Language: en