There are cases where a parent would claim that their child has a rare and serious disease. For instance, they might say the child has a particular type of cancer. They would then subject the child to numerous invasive tests and treatments. The parent does this not because the child is actually ill but because they have Munchausen by proxy. They enjoy the attention and the sense of being a 'devoted' caregiver that comes with the child's supposed illness.
One well - known example is the case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, had Munchausen by proxy. She made Gypsy seem much sicker than she actually was, faking her medical conditions and forcing her to undergo unnecessary treatments. Another example could be cases where a caregiver exaggerates a child's symptoms to get attention from medical professionals.
Sure. There was a situation where a woman made her elderly mother seem more ill than she actually was. She would lie about the mother's symptoms to doctors and nurses. The woman seemed to thrive on the sympathy she received from family and friends because of her mother's supposed poor health. Eventually, the truth came out when a new doctor took a more in - depth look at the mother's medical history and found many inconsistencies.
One real - life story involves a mother who repeatedly took her child to the doctor claiming various mysterious illnesses. She would exaggerate symptoms or even induce minor symptoms in the child. Eventually, the medical staff became suspicious when the symptoms didn't match any known medical conditions and the mother seemed overly eager for invasive tests and treatments.
The psychological reasons are complex. In Munchausen by proxy true stories, the perpetrator often has a personality disorder. They may be narcissistic, wanting the attention and admiration that comes with taking care of a sick child. There could also be a need to feel special or important. By having a sick child, they are in a unique situation that sets them apart from others. Additionally, some may have a history of being neglected or overlooked, and this is their way of getting noticed, albeit in a very harmful way to the child.
One well - known 'Munchausen by Proxy' - themed fiction could be 'Gone Girl'. In this book, there are elements where a character manipulates situations in a somewhat similar way. Another might be 'Sharp Objects' which has complex characters with tendencies to create false scenarios around themselves and others.
One real - life example could be a person who constantly feigns serious illnesses in the hospital. They might fake symptoms like extreme pain or seizures just to get attention from medical staff. Another case could be someone who self - induces minor injuries to seem more ill.
One well - known case involved a mother who was constantly taking her child to the doctor with various fabricated symptoms. She would make the child seem sicker than they actually were, like faking fevers or rashes. Eventually, the medical staff became suspicious when the child's symptoms didn't match any known medical conditions and investigations revealed the mother's actions.
One shocking case involved a mother who repeatedly poisoned her child to get medical attention. She would administer small doses of harmful substances and then rush the child to the hospital, feigning ignorance of the cause. Another case was a caregiver who faked the symptoms of an elderly person under their care, causing the person to undergo numerous unnecessary medical procedures.
One way is through inconsistent medical histories. If a caregiver gives different accounts of a patient's symptoms or the patient's symptoms don't match the expected progression of any known disease, it could be a sign. For example, if a child is said to have had a high fever for days but shows no signs of dehydration or other related symptoms, it's suspicious.
In book fictions, 'Munchausen by Proxy' often shows through a character who creates or exaggerates illnesses or problems in another person. For example, in some mystery novels, a character might make others seem sicker than they are to gain attention or control.
One example could be 'The Hunger Games' as a proxy novel for dystopian youth literature. It has all the elements like a totalitarian government, a fight for survival, and a young protagonist leading the resistance, which are typical in this genre.