The Young ME Sufferers Trust
www.tymestrust.org
July 2004

======

In Tymes Magazine : on whether you need to
inspect your medical and school records

======

The BMA’s Complete Family Health Encyclopedia states: ‘In Munchausen’s
Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) parents cause factitious disorders in their
children.’

Parents are reporting to us that they have found MSBP mentioned in their
own or their child’s records. Suspicions that parents may have harmed
their children can spark off child protection procedures, particularly
where disputes arise over treatment or school attendance.

Allegations of MSBP fail in law when a medical condition explains the
symptoms, but diagnosis may take weeks, months, even years. When ME/CFS
is finally diagnosed, medically unqualified people may still doubt it.

Case 1: A mother could not find a job; her medical records showed she was
suspected of MSBP.

Case 2: A child’s school records showed that teachers had queried a
diagnosis of ME/CFS and were trying to impose an unsuitable regime.
Anyone not medically qualified cannot make this judgement.

Case 3: A mother found that her daughter was thought to be suffering from
Pervasive Refusal Syndrome (PRS), a psychiatric term meaning total
withdrawal, possibly due to child abuse. Refusing to eat, wash or
undertake personal care are symptoms. But severe ME/CFS can make a child
too weak to eat or wash. Querying diagnosis or refusing treatment is
listed as characteristic of a parent whose child suffers from PRS. Query
the diagnosis and you confirm it.

Records can have corrections added. We advise families to check their own
and/or their child’s medical and school records if they have concerns.
For an article on Pervasive Refusal Syndrome send £1.50 to The Young ME
Sufferers Trust.

======

Copyright (c) 2004 The Young ME Sufferers Trust