Practical Aspects of Munchausen by Proxy and Munchausen Syndrome InvestigationIt is essential for anyone involved in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases to be aware of the often hidden and subtle warning signs of Munchausen by Proxy. Munchausen syndrome, classified as a mental illness, occurs when a person inflicts or fabricates illness upon themselves, often as an attention-getting device. Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) is an even more insidious disorder in that such illness or injury is inflicted upon a victim-usually a child. Awareness can stop the vicious cycle of abuse Practical Aspects of Munchausen by Proxy and Munchausen Syndrome Investigation is the most comprehensive law enforcement handbook written on MBP, which is now considered an index factor in child abuse investigations and as a suspicion factor in the deaths of young children. This book offers detailed insight into the dynamics of MBP abuse and the Munchausen offender. The text chronicles real cases of MBP and Munchausen in the dominion of law enforcement and relates them to general principles of criminal investigations. With this practical guide, readers will be able to readily identify Munchausen-related behavior, apply that recognition in all types of investigations, improve the ability to detect covert or falsified crimes, have the basic knowledge to effectively combat MBP child victimization, or to successfully proscecute MBP cases. |
Contents
Understanding the Complicated Domain of MBP | 3 |
Profiling | 45 |
Understanding Munchausen and Gaining | 71 |
Envisioning MBP and Munchausen Syndrome | 81 |
Recognizing What You See | 87 |
MBP Fact Sheet | 94 |
False Reports and Serial Victimization | 115 |
The Involvement of Police Personnel in the Munchausen Snare | 121 |
Diversity | 235 |
The Unseen Murder of Children | 249 |
+ + | 253 |
Alternative Victimization | 279 |
MBP as a Defense in Sexual Battery Cases | 291 |
The Significance of Fire in MBP and | 303 |
Witnesses in Burn Injury Investigations | 309 |
The MBP Prosecutive Stance | 325 |
Police Personnel as MBPMunchausen Syndrome Offenders | 127 |
Crime Scenes and Evidence Procedures | 153 |
The Multidisciplinary Approach to Case Management | 191 |
Child Protection | 211 |
| 343 | |
| 353 | |
Common terms and phrases
ability abuse victims actions agencies Alicia alleged American Psychiatric Association and/or apnea appears associated attention Baby Nathan become cause child protective child sexual abuse Christina chronic considered court crime criminal custody Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Deanne death dependency Detective Smith diagnosis direct disorder DSM-IV eating disorders evidence expert Factitious Disorder factor fire Freda his/her homicide hospital identified illness illness(s initial injury intervention interview involved issues law enforcement MBP abuse MBP and Munchausen MBP behavior MBP child abuse MBP child victim MBP infliction MBP investigations MBP offender's MBP or Munchausen MBP victimization MBP/Munchausen Syndrome medical personnel medical staff mother Munchausen by Proxy Munchausen Syndrome murder non-offending parent non-offending spouse normal occur person physical police potential MBP present protocol reality regarding reported responsibility risk sexual abuse SIDS situation status suspected offender suspicion symptoms Syndrome by Proxy Syndrome offender Tanya Reid tion understanding utilized video surveillance vomiting