Row over medical diagnosis “Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy.”
Several years ago, researchers devised a new diagnosis called “Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy” (MSBP). According to the diagnosis, parents harmed their children in order to draw attention to themselves. By advocating medical care for their children, parents could come under suspicion of MSBP. The diagnosis resulted in hundreds of British parents and thousands of parents worldwide losing custody of their children. Now controversy rages over whether the diagnosis has validity. (*)