Child Abuse By Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy: A Case Study

Factors and Consequences of Child Abuse by Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy Child abuse and neglect is both a social and public health problem. Abuse and neglect has lead to an extensive variation of adverse consequences for children and adolescents. Gosselin (2014) stated that child abuse and neglect refers to any behavior by parents, caregivers, other adults or older adolescents that is outside the norms of conduct and entails a substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm to a child or adolescent and that these behaviors can be intentional or unintentional and can include acts of omission or commission (p. 89). The five main subtypes of child abuse and neglect are physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, neglect, sexual abuse, and witnessing

The same is true when a child is living in a situation of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Not all children exposed to similar experiences of abuse and neglect are affected in the same way. For some children, the effects of child abuse and neglect may be chronic and debilitating, while others may experience less adverse outcomes (Lamont, 2010, p.1). Different, negative and positive, life experiences and family situations can have an impact on a child's vulnerability or resilience in the face of abuse or maltreatment. The effects of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and child abuse, as previously stated, can be manifested physically or psychologically. They can be direct or indirect, immediate or delayed, or chronic or acute. This type of child abuse is oftentimes describes as a form of victimization that is never ending because of its intricacy. Physical trauma is therefore categorized as long and short term. Artingstall