Munchausen By Proxy

The disturbing story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard has captivated the attention of the media. Gypsy has been on the cover of People Magazine and a guest on many talk shows, and Hulu created a mini-series about her case. There have also been numerous documentaries about Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee Blanchard. In case you aren’t up to date, Gypsy was the victim of Munchhausen by Proxy. Eventually, her boyfriend killed her abuser, her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Gypsy Rose served eight years in prison for the second-degree murder of her mother. After being released on parole, she has become an advocate for victims of Munchausen by Proxy.

What is Munchausen by Proxy?

According to Web MD, Munchausen by Proxy is a psychological disorder marked by attention-seeking behavior through people, usually their children for whom they are providing care. The mother is the perpetrator in the majority of cases, and their children are the target. Although occasionally the motivation is financial or material gain, most are motivated by the need for attention, and they get that through the exaggerated or manufactured medical needs of their children.

How

Some of the mothers exaggerate symptoms that already exist. Other mothers create illnesses in their children. This form of abuse can range from giving infants Syrup of Ipecac to create vomiting to more severe cases where mothers poison their children. Parents have also been known to starve their children, infect them, smother them, and falsify medical records.

In Gypsy Rose’s case, her mother convinced everyone that Gypsy had muscular dystrophy. She shaved Gypsy’s head and forced her to remain in a wheelchair. As Gypsy became older and more aware of what was happening, Dee Dee used physical abuse to continue the charade. At times, Dee Dee would chain Gypsy to her bed for weeks at a time to prevent her from escaping.

Warning signs of MBP

Because most of the abusers come across as very loving, involved parents, it is complicated to spot MBP and even harder to prove. It’s believed to be underreported and much more prevalent than statistics show. According to Web MD, these are some signs that may be present.

• The child has a history of multiple hospitalizations, often with strange symptoms.
• The child’s symptoms seem to get worse when the parents are the only witnesses.
• The child’s reported symptoms and conditions don’t match the test results.
• There may be more than one unusual illness or death of children in the family.
• The child’s symptoms improve in the hospital and recur when the child returns home.
• Blood in the lab samples may not match the blood of the child.
• There may be signs of chemicals in the child’s blood, stool, or urine.

Even with the warning signs, Munchausen by Proxy is difficult to detect. Children are subjected to many painful tests and surgeries for no reason. It is hard to comprehend how a person can knowingly subject their child to so much pain to satisfy the parent’s need for attention.

Who

What kind of person is most likely to commit MBP? Although it can be any caregiver, it is almost always the mother. Many of the women who commit this type of abuse have had a job in the medical field, which provides a level of knowledge of medical procedures and diagnoses. Often, they have a history of having been abused themselves as children. They are almost always very friendly and cooperative with the medical personnel, craving the attention and approval of doctors and nurses. These mothers appear to be totally devoted to their child. These personality characteristics increase the odds that Munchausen by Proxy will fly under the radar.

Outcomes

As previously stated, most cases of Munchausen by Proxy go unrecognized. It is hard to detect and even harder to prove. Separating the child from the parent to see if the symptoms improve is often the only way to prove it. Unfortunately, it is estimated that between six to nine percent of the victims die from conditions created by the perpetrator.

For those victims who are eventually able to leave their abuser, there is often a lifetime of post-traumatic stress from having been abused by their parent. Often, medical care is necessary to heal from physical trauma. Intensive therapy is essential to deal with the psychological and physical abuse suffered during their childhood.

As with all types of child abuse, if you suspect a child is a victim of Munchausen by Proxy, contact a healthcare professional or child protective services. Call 911 if you suspect a child is in imminent danger. Another resource is Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453, where counselors are available 24/7.