The department of social work at a local hospital has been contacted regarding an unusual case. A 2 year-old child is brought to the hospital 3 times over a two week period for "breathing problems." Each time the symptoms are present, the mother is with the child. At the third visit, the child is hospitalized, and during the course of an over-night stay, the child appears normal. However, by mid-morning after the mother has returned to the hospital, the breathing monitor sounds an alarm. What concern might the medical staff have regarding this case?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The repeated hospital visits for breathing problems when the child appears normal during hospitalization, along with the fact that the symptoms only occur when the mother is present, suggest that the mother may be fabricating or inducing the symptoms in the child, which is consistent with factitious disorder imposed on another (previously known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy).

The Department of Social Work at a Local Hospital Has