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Re: A crazy case
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<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">I investigated a case in
Staffordshire UK in 1994 which became quite widely reported in the
popular media but not to my knowledge as a case study in the medical
press.<br>
<br>
The mother of three young children was referred to social services as a
possible Munchausen's by Proxy abuser after three twelve week old
puppies in the family home had died of non-accidental injuries. The
allegation caused serious and long lasting disruption to the family.
She was not allowed to be in sole control of her children for some
time. The reality was that the father of the children, a police
officer, was the one harming the puppies, yet it was never alleged that
he might have MSBP tendencies - men rarely are.<br>
<br>
The paediatrician drawn into the case, whose report was instrumental in
care procedures being initiated, cited a paper by Arkow; "The
correlations between cruelty to animals and child abuse and the
implications for veterinary medicine". Canadian Veterinary Journal.
1992:33:518-521.<br>
<br>
Most unusually in my experience the court rejected an application for
an Emergency Protection Order.<br>
<br>
I have advised the mother of the reference on this list and she has
asked to be allowed to respond.<br>
<br>
Brian Morgan<br>
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