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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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binthair

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October 19, 2007, 7:31 pm PDT

Munchausen's abuse takes many forms

Having suspected someone I know of MBP, I have been researching it for more than a year.  Although I cannot be considered an expert, I have found that victims, (not only children - anyone in the care of an MBP personality),  may be subjected to a variety of abuses by the perpetrator.  Neglect, emotional abuse, and physical maltreatment are common.  The (seemingly) more aggressive behavior of being the cause of illness to a person in care, is just one of several ways the perpetrator brings attention to herself, (or himself).  The perpetrator is a practiced deceiver, and the victims almost always defend the perpetrator.  The perpetrator usually shares certain personality traits with other perpetrators, yet the ability to prove MBP is a complicated  undertaking, requiring the assistance of  child protection agencies,  medical and psychological professionals and attorneys, normally part of a team.  Knowing how the accusation can tear a family apart, as well as alienate  the victims , (who will probably suffer long-term effects), and that the perpetrator will usually  become more aggressive toward the victims, prevents many from reporting the abuses.  Even suspecting it, is a frustrating and scarey position in which to find one's self. 
 
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binthair

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October 21, 2007, 6:19 pm PDT

Insurance providers monitoring?

 After reading through this message board, I found a very good question posed by one of the participants.  It's a question I have pondered for some time.  How do the MBP perpetrators get away with mixing meds that are dangerous, or with jumping from doctor to doctor, or with giving the "go ahead" for a life-long treatment plan, in the absence of a second opinion?  The insurance carriers are quick to reject meds for which they don't want to pay, and treatments that are not properly referred.  It would cost a fortune to go around the health care provider to obtain meds and find doctors who will prescribe them.  Wouldn't you think all kinds of red flags would come up with the insurance carriers?  I think this is an important point, and is being overlooked to a great extent.  Seeing multiple doctors, and getting prescriptions based on what is described to them as symptoms should at least put accountability on the carrier to reject meds that,  combined with other meds currently being taken, are harmful to the child, or the person in care.  I suppose a perp could  have something prescribed in another name, though.  Does anyone know if the carriers are on top of this?   Does anyone know if the carriers are required to provide this information to an MBP investigation team?
 
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ally1969
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October 22, 2007, 2:06 pm PDT

question

Quote From: binthair

Having suspected someone I know of MBP, I have been researching it for more than a year.  Although I cannot be considered an expert, I have found that victims, (not only children - anyone in the care of an MBP personality),  may be subjected to a variety of abuses by the perpetrator.  Neglect, emotional abuse, and physical maltreatment are common.  The (seemingly) more aggressive behavior of being the cause of illness to a person in care, is just one of several ways the perpetrator brings attention to herself, (or himself).  The perpetrator is a practiced deceiver, and the victims almost always defend the perpetrator.  The perpetrator usually shares certain personality traits with other perpetrators, yet the ability to prove MBP is a complicated  undertaking, requiring the assistance of  child protection agencies,  medical and psychological professionals and attorneys, normally part of a team.  Knowing how the accusation can tear a family apart, as well as alienate  the victims , (who will probably suffer long-term effects), and that the perpetrator will usually  become more aggressive toward the victims, prevents many from reporting the abuses.  Even suspecting it, is a frustrating and scarey position in which to find one's self. 

Is it possible to have both Munchausens and Munchausen by proxy??

I also suspect that someone I work with may have this. She is always saying her daughter is sick, takes her to many specialists, but she looks perfectly healthy whenever I see her. It is always a new disease or sickness, or they can't figure out what is wrong with her.

Then, the mother herself also misses tons of work and tells different people different things about what is wrong with her. I have caught her in several lies.

I don't know her all that well, just from work, but I am worried for her little girl. I guess I was hoping that she just liked getting the attention from the illnesses, not that she was actually causing them. May be that she is just a hypochondriac...?
 
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ceildh1
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October 22, 2007, 7:18 pm PDT

10/11 Munchausen Mom

Quote From: tiffany_2007

1)I thought that in the States you had to PAY for Doctor's visits and Hospital visists, how was 400 visits paid for ?

 

No see we have health insurance you can either get through work, get through the state or private. Its a monthly fee and usually pays for all visits or you my have co-payments of like $10-$100 (never had insurance with a co payment so i don't know how much usually) I have never had to put a penny out for medical visits, ER visits, or any of my meds, my insurance pays for that while I pay a small fee every month.

Thanks for clarifying that for me, our provincial Health Insurance covers that for us, so I don't really understand the American system, though Canadians are wise to get coverage from private insurance as well whether through work or on their own.
 
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stomppie
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October 24, 2007, 1:15 pm PDT

Munchasan by proxy

Quote From: redrum

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.
My friend  has 2 kids and his wife is a nurse and would you belive  she has tried to kill her kids sevral times! the doctors discovered this and she is going to court as we speak. What is wrong with people who hurt kids?  they are our future.
 
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hopelhj
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confused
October 24, 2007, 5:39 pm PDT

Where was the family from the beginning?

  1. I wonder where the family was during the oldest daughters life.  Why is family stepping in now to help the young children?  Why did the aunt or any other family members not step in for the first child? 
  2. Since this is for attention from Medical personnel ... why did she give birth to her daughter at home?  That is the PRIME TIME to have attention! 
  3. Again, she needs medical personnels' attention ... so Why did she have the other child at home and then berry it?  That was another time to have great attention and the opportunity was missed then as well! 
 
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redrum
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October 24, 2007, 9:24 pm PDT

Your friend

Quote From: stomppie

My friend  has 2 kids and his wife is a nurse and would you belive  she has tried to kill her kids sevral times! the doctors discovered this and she is going to court as we speak. What is wrong with people who hurt kids?  they are our future.
They are our future. I am so scared for my nephew and just feel so worried about him. My sister is in such denial and uses her finanes to buy doctors to wroite letters to prove to the couts that she isn't hurting her son. What happned in cout?
 
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tiffany_2007

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October 25, 2007, 1:46 pm PDT

10/11 Munchausen Mom

Quote From: hopelhj

  1. I wonder where the family was during the oldest daughters life.  Why is family stepping in now to help the young children?  Why did the aunt or any other family members not step in for the first child? 
  2. Since this is for attention from Medical personnel ... why did she give birth to her daughter at home?  That is the PRIME TIME to have attention! 
  3. Again, she needs medical personnels' attention ... so Why did she have the other child at home and then berry it?  That was another time to have great attention and the opportunity was missed then as well! 
To the second statment, I thought when I heard that, was so she could have more attention cause its more likly something will go wrong at home then in a hospital so she would get more attention in the end if there was a bad birth then a  good one at the hospital.
 
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heidi126
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October 25, 2007, 9:25 pm PDT

What else can I do

I fear to death that my sons fathers ex is like that she has only one kid by him,but she has four children who all suffer from different illnesses. From mental disorders to cerebral palsy. The thing that  strikes me is that the kids fathers; all of them have went to court and told the judge that they knew that their children were not sick and that the mother was making them sick. and from what I know the judge did not listen to them. And I have to admit that at first I did not really take heed either untill the children started comeing over my house and I saw that they were completly healthy and were very well behaved if I might add. When One day my fiance bought his son over to visit and she(his ex) called and told him to take the boy to the hospital because he was having breathing problems. I checked his lungs and evrything sounded fine. All he wanted to dowas go swiming and play basketball. When I told her that he was fine she went off on me telling me that I did not know what Iwas talking about.The point is that that was just one of the many incidence were she created symptoms in the chlild that were not present unless the child and her were alone. I have tried time and time agian to tell the fathers what I know, but they feel like no one believes them, because the decisions that the courts have made. I am very concerned  about the children her youngest was just put into the hospital for gastrointestinal problems.which i know there is no problem.I have reported her to my local child protective services and she is currently  under investigation. But I would really like to know what more can i do. And how can i get the fathers more involved. I am 100%sure that this woman has munchasen by proxy. I know the doctors should I talk to them. I am truely lost. If someone is out there who can help me please do so. Thanx
 
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mcginga
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October 29, 2007, 8:03 am PDT

10/11 Munchausen Mom

Quote From: heidi126

I fear to death that my sons fathers ex is like that she has only one kid by him,but she has four children who all suffer from different illnesses. From mental disorders to cerebral palsy. The thing that  strikes me is that the kids fathers; all of them have went to court and told the judge that they knew that their children were not sick and that the mother was making them sick. and from what I know the judge did not listen to them. And I have to admit that at first I did not really take heed either untill the children started comeing over my house and I saw that they were completly healthy and were very well behaved if I might add. When One day my fiance bought his son over to visit and she(his ex) called and told him to take the boy to the hospital because he was having breathing problems. I checked his lungs and evrything sounded fine. All he wanted to dowas go swiming and play basketball. When I told her that he was fine she went off on me telling me that I did not know what Iwas talking about.The point is that that was just one of the many incidence were she created symptoms in the chlild that were not present unless the child and her were alone. I have tried time and time agian to tell the fathers what I know, but they feel like no one believes them, because the decisions that the courts have made. I am very concerned  about the children her youngest was just put into the hospital for gastrointestinal problems.which i know there is no problem.I have reported her to my local child protective services and she is currently  under investigation. But I would really like to know what more can i do. And how can i get the fathers more involved. I am 100%sure that this woman has munchasen by proxy. I know the doctors should I talk to them. I am truely lost. If someone is out there who can help me please do so. Thanx

You should attempt to talk to the doctors about this. Do not give up.  Keep a journal of the suspicious events. The best of luck to you -Kerry Ann
 
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