Mother who pretended girl had cancer

[Baba]

Anyone going to watch this tonight?

I don't know much about it but read the write-up and it sounds almost unbelievable.

Is it a true story??
How could she get away with it?

MSBP is extremely rare. It has been frequently misdiagnosed by social services. If you look at any of the major autism charities you will see most are running some sort of campaign to try and highlight the problems. There are a number of cases (quite a few) where children with autism have been removed from their families on a mistaken diagnosis of MSBP. The problem is ss are given more training in MSBP than autism although the number of cases of autism is far far higher than the cases of MSBP. The guidelines they are given for recognising MSBP - and the behaviour they are told to look out for- is almost identical to high functioning autistic behaviour.

MSBP does occur- but very rarely.

sorry sorry, but MSBP often gets autism campaigners hackles rising.

The mother didn't have MSBP- that is seeking attention and sympathy for yourself by harming your child. She just wanted money.

jimjams I am not sure I understand you.
You define MBP as seeking attention and sympathy for yourself by harming your child. This is exactly what my brother thinks is more common than one might think. I'm not sure what the connection to autism (misdiagnosis ) is, but I am sure you will be able to expalin.
Many thanks.

Jasper

Think the NAS probably explains the problem better than me.......

www.nas.org.uk/policy/consult/fact_fab.html

Ta very much for that Jimjams

I think that MSBP can be a problem for parents of ASD kids becauset the symptoms/manifestations of ASD can be subtle, different at different times in differnt places, frequently change and are based on observation. Therefore many parents believing their kids have ASD are dismissed by professionals who don't see what is going on and, IMHO, often don't recognise a lot of ASD behaviour when they do see it. Luckily there are some very good people willing to listen but many times parents have to become a nuisance just to be listened to and then, if not going as far as accusing them of having MSBP, they are suspected of "promoting" their child's difficulties to get access to services. Can you imagine inventing or exaggerating developmental problems in your own child just to push your way into the special needs world?!! Its so insulting. I have never come across a child who was wrongly diagnosed as having autism when, in fact, they didn't but I've met very many who did not get the diagnosis who do have autism. (sorry for rant)!

Davros- ds1 went on a gf diet following the Sunderland test before receiving a diagnosis of autism (before even seeing anyone actually- although we were on a SALT waiting list). We were referred to a dietician at the hospital who was useless eg she told me "Paul Shattock says you have to challenege the children with gluten every 3 months" (bollards). Told me to use a star chart to encourage wider eating (non-verbal 2 year old undegoing assessment for autism hmmmmm). Aand then at the end told me he couldn't possibly be autistic as he put his toys away in the box when I told him to. Agggghhhhhhhh! She then eyed me very suspicioulsy and I left feeling like she suspected MSBP.

Since then the pendulum has swung the other way and I have been told cannot accept reality by the pros. I raised my concerns about his speech disorder (as a separate issue) a year and a half ago. I was told I was imagining it if I thought he was trying to talk, that he wasn't trying to communicate at all, and that of course he didn't know who his mummy and daddy were (never mind that he could point out great auntie eileen in a family photo - I was imagining that as well). This week we recieved the statementing reports. They all comment on how hard he tries to communicate and that he has an additional undiagnosed speech disorder. Oh so I wan't imagining it then. Funny that!

Rant over! Mind you at least my child wasn't removed from me becuase the professionals don't know their arses from their elbows when it comes to autism. It has happened to too many people though.

JimJams - totally agree, its either you're imagining things that aren't there or not accepting things that are!! which is it?! Just read on another thread that you were told that all ASD kids have dyspraxia but I know loads of parents who can't get anyone to take their views on dyspraxia seriously.... ALso, mine definitely does not have dyspraxia. Over the last 6 years I've learned to speak "special needs" and that definitely helps with professionals but many get away with being, at best naive but more often just plain obstructive. Not sure if some of what I said before was contrary to your experience? Sorry if it was, not meant to be. Its all so complicated (and then there's statementing....!)

As an aside regarding MBP in general.....

Carriemac - 'MBP is a type of attention seeking, its not the proceedure but the attention/sympathy etc these wicked people get that they thrive on. That poor kid, what type of relationship will she ever have with her mum? '

I definitely do NOT condone the actions of sufferers of MBP, but I would like to point out that MBP IS a genuine mental illness and to label these people 'wicked' is perhaps a little harsh and misguided. Mental illness in all of its forms is a very misunderstood and indeed, taboo, condition. It is sometimes very hard to sympathise and remember that these people are medically sick.

oh not contrary to my experience at all davros- I was agreeing. Basically the parent is never listened to. As you say you're either over-reacting or in denial.

The dyspraxia thing makes me laugh. They won't specify dyspraxia separately because they say it's part and parcel of the condition (when as you said it isn't- my friends ASD girl is gifted in terms of balance and co-ordination I've never seen another child like her- she isincredible). Then when you try to get treatment for it they won't give it as dyspraxia hasn't been diagnosed!!!

I am just back from the statementing meeting. I have a lot of faith in the school- but what a pile of cack it was. Head now spinning!

I don't believe in MSBP, and nor do lots of doctors. It is, in my opinion, an invented syndrome. That's not a particularly controversial view in psychiatric circles.

I don't believe in MSBP, and nor do lots of doctors. It is, in my opinion, an invented syndrome. That's not a particularly controversial view in psychiatric circles.

Do you mean an invented syndrome to excuse people who abuse their children?

Just a quick update on his story. The parents have been given a prison sentence for their crimes, here is the report

Just a quick update on this story. The parents have been given a prison sentence for their crimes, here is the report

I am really surprised that the mother didnt get a harsher sentence, although I see it says "more than" 6 years. Just hope the daughter is able to have a "normal" life now.