Citation

Tozzo P, Picozzi M, Caenazzo L. Clin. Ter. 2017; 168(3): e129-e134.

Affiliation

University of Padua, Department of Molecular Medicine.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Societa Editrice Universo)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

29938745

Abstract

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a relatively rare behavioral disorder affecting a child's primary caregiver, typically the mother. Ethical dilemmas that physicians may face in such situations mainly concern the medical options for best protecting the child's welfare, that are important, in clinical pediatric practice, because critical conflicts might arise between health professionals and parents. In such cases, the physician's primary obligation is to protect the children involved, whose family environment may be essential to their wellbeing. Every ethical choice should be tailored to a given child's story, which should be viewed as a whole, considering the possible consequences for the family balance, and taking the complexity of the emotional and psychological dimensions of children's relationship with their parents into account. Specific protocols, discussion of clinical cases, open communication of feelings will help doctors to deal more effectively with the families involved and ensure that treatment decisions are made in the child's best interest.

Language: en

Keywords

Caregiver fabricated illness; Child abuse; Child’s best interest; Clinical ethics; Munchausen syndrome by proxy