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Topic : 10/11 Munchausen Mom

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Created on : Friday, October 05, 2007, 11:28:17 am

Author : DrPhilBoard1

Dr. Phil takes a look at the unthinkable: making your own child sick to fulfill a disturbing need to get medicine, sympathy and attention. The idea might sound unimaginable, but for people with a psychological disorder called Munchausen by Proxy, it’s irresistible. First, see disturbing footage of parents caught on tape actually causing harm to their children. Then, Dr. Phil looks into the mind of one woman, Tracy, convicted of trying to harm her youngest daughter by constantly keeping her sick. Hear from Tracy's oldest daughter, Heather, who survived years of her mother’s abuse. She says her mom forced her into a wheelchair unnecessarily, took her to almost 400 medical visits, and caused her to spend over 100 days of her life in hospital beds -- needlessly. Most disturbing of all is the secret Heather revealed to police about what her mother buried in their back yard. When Dr. Phil makes a phone call to Tracy in prison, will she acknowledge the problem with her parenting? And could she be preparing to have another child? Hear Dr. Phil’s strong words for this Munchausen mom. Plus, how are Tracy’s children doing now that she is out of their lives? Note: Viewer discretion is advised. Join the discussion.

Find out what happened on the show.

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fillhelps

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October 17, 2007, 8:34 pm PDT

The older daughter concerns me.

I was just able to watch this show from last week. It was very interesting but I habe a concern about the older daughter. When she was being interviewed about her mother burying the newborn in the back yard she kept grinning or trying to fight a grin as if she was enjoying the attention. I pray that she does not want the kind of attention her mother wanted and I hope that I am wrong. Otherwise, I feel that needs to be looked into by her therapist and treated as needed. It would be sad for her and any children she might have if she feels she needs to follow her mother's footsteps for attention. Also, I may be way off on this but the daughter did not seem to act or speak her age. Is this a result of the terrible things that she suffered as a child or is it just my imagination. I will pray for her and for her siblings and also for her mother that she can quit denying her mistakes/murder attempts and murder, and get on to a healthy life WITHOUT CHILDREN!

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fillhelps

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October 17, 2007, 9:16 pm PDT

Confused Here TOO!

Quote From: ilovepoohbear

I am a little angry about this story. I don't understand if you know she had killed her baby and she admits to doing it why will she not be charged with the murder. Whether she meant to do it or not she needs to be held accountable for her actions. I know I look at my kids everyday and the thought of making them ill for my gratification makes me sick. How people can get away with this with little to no time in jail makes me sick. How is the world going to end up if we do not put our foot down now and say enough is enough.

I certainly do not understand why it is that the mother is not charged in the death of the baby burried in the yard or at least tampering with a corpse. That is just too strange for comfort. How many other babies did she destroy and bury somewhere? She seems to have gotten away with murder on this one and I just do not understand it at all. It makes me sick! I am angry at her but also the law where she lives that nothing is being done! I also think that as part of her sentencing, she should be sterilized so she CANNOT HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN! They do this to rapist sometimes so why not to a mother that gets off on hurting her children? Makes sense to me!

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lullabyguild

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October 17, 2007, 11:22 pm PDT

Why shouldn't the courts step in?

Quote From: tiffany_2007

I agree that she shouldn't have any more children but the courts cant step in like that, thats the same in saying court has the right to tell someone to have a abortion or forced to have a child.

It's not the same at all. You kill or abuse your child, you shouldn't have parental rights anymore. You should lose that right when you violate your children. Quit being so left-winged. If you treat your children right, you have nothing to worry about. Why are you trying to protect someone who has done the unspeakable?

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1dianne

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October 18, 2007, 1:13 pm PDT

10/11 Munchausen Mom

The first I heard of MSBP was in a documentary titled 'Autopsy - Confessions of a medical examiner'

by Dr. Michael Baden, available on Netflix.

On the show he discussed, among other stories and things,

the case of Marybeth Tinning, who killed 9 of her children.

All the Dr.s who examined the bodies of the children all put it down to genetics.

Untill the adopted son died too.

Then Dr. Baden was called in to examine the case files.

He proved all the other Dr.s wrong.

And there was another case that was made into a movie, true story,

"A Child Lost Forever: The Jerry Sherwood Story"

The birth mother, played by Beverly D'Angelo, was a teen mother forced to give up her son, Dennis,

and 'Lois Jurgens' adopted him.

Years later she got word that Dennis was dead.

Then she sets out to find out how and why he died.

His adopted mother killed after YEARS of abuse.

Those are both good movies and I recommend that everyone watch them.

Very sad, but informative.

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1dianne

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October 18, 2007, 2:26 pm PDT

10/11 Munchausen Mom

Here is the story of Marybeth Tinning.

http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/marybeth_tinning/index.html

from Crimelibrary.com

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redrum

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October 18, 2007, 3:25 pm PDT

concern for my nephew

My sister was diagnosed with munchausen 10 year ago and nothing has been done to help my nephew. I have made calls to CPS, therappists, Mental Health Centers, Doctors and teachers. I don't know what elso to do to help this young man he is 16. He cannot go to schoo ldue to severe anxiety has very few experiences ourtside of the home actually only with family members. When he is awake which is all night he is on the computer. His Mother refuses to get hime into a treatment center because she is "afraid that he will be exposed to drugs or inapprporiate behaviors. She was diagnosed with Munchausen 10 years ago and completely denies having the disease. In the meantime her son is in desperate shape and needs help badly. I live 2500 miles away and don't know what to do to help. The rest of the family is pretty m uch feeling the same way we are all at a loss and very concerned. If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

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tha4js

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October 18, 2007, 11:25 pm PDT

Unbelievable...

I sat down to watch the show tonight while giving my 13 month old a bottle to put him to sleep. Those first clips immediately made me break down crying. I could not believe what I was seeing. How in the hell can these people do these things. It made me sick to my stomach. All I could think about was my own two boys. (3 and 13 months). I do everything I can to protect them from being hurt and it is people like them who make me scared of taking my own kids to a doctor in fear of being accused of these very things. I was hit as a child but I could never imagine going through what these poor children have to go through and not having a voice. It made me thankful for what I have. It may not always be easy being a stay-at-home mom to two boys but I'm so grateful that they are healthy and happy enough to irritate me once in a while. I won't even get started on that bitch behind bars. I just cannot believe she isn't going to be there the rest of her life. How long did she get sentenced? Does anyone know? Maybe they should put something in her prison food to make her throw up every day and see how she likes it. Sorry so long but I appreciate anyone who took the time to read this. Thank you Dr. Phil.

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woundedknee43

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October 19, 2007, 7:14 am PDT

HELLO AGAIN

Quote From: prayingforsam

Good question. When they diagnosed her with MBP, her attorney fought for one more unsupervised visit. Maybe it would take a while, paperwork, etc. for supervised visits to take place? I don't know. So she was granted that one last visit, and that's when she kidnapped her. My husband did not trust her and fought to not have her unsupervised, but since she is the mother, the court granted it.

Thanks for your prayers and concern.

I have felt the need to reach out to you again and see how things have progressed. You letter has touchde me so that I wonder every day how Sam is doing. Did she ever get to come home? If she didow is she doing. I hope you don't mind, but I wrote to Dr. Phil and to his staff begging them to help you. I pray that all is well with you.

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tiffany_2007

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October 19, 2007, 4:06 pm PDT

Munchausen

Quote From: redrum

My sister was diagnosed with munchausen 10 year ago and nothing has been done to help my nephew. I have made calls to CPS, therappists, Mental Health Centers, Doctors and teachers. I don't know what elso to do to help this young man he is 16. He cannot go to schoo ldue to severe anxiety has very few experiences ourtside of the home actually only with family members. When he is awake which is all night he is on the computer. His Mother refuses to get hime into a treatment center because she is "afraid that he will be exposed to drugs or inapprporiate behaviors. She was diagnosed with Munchausen 10 years ago and completely denies having the disease. In the meantime her son is in desperate shape and needs help badly. I live 2500 miles away and don't know what to do to help. The rest of the family is pretty m uch feeling the same way we are all at a loss and very concerned. If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

Does she have Munchausen Syndrome or Muchausen by proxy Syndrome?

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redrum

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October 19, 2007, 4:28 pm PDT

My nephew

Quote From: tiffany_2007

Does she have Munchausen Syndrome or Muchausen by proxy Syndrome?

I don't know my nephew's child psychiatrist said that my sister had Munchausen. She refuses to talk abou it and denies any resposibility in her son's illnesses.

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