Mother kept able-bodied son in a wheelchair for years

[AB Asks]

The child who is now 11 was kept in a wheelchair by his mother for five years because she didn't want him to leave her. The single mother, 31, fooled doctors into thinking her son could not walk and that he had regular fits. Doctors prescribed the child medication which his mother administered; she accidentally gave the boy an overdose which was when her bizarre plot was uncovered by paramedics. She has now been sent to prison for four years. What do you think? Was this a woman consumed with so much love for her son that she could not bear the thought of ever being without him ?

[B00]

I wish you'd supply links for these stories, I really do!

Anyhoo...the kind of thing the mother was suffering from (apart from being barmy) has a name doesn't it? Sure it's something like Munchousen (sp?) disease.

[sandrajo]

What I don't understand is how she managed to fool the doctors, did he never get examined?.....It's all very strange to me!

[daffy654]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/733506 4.stm

It says he was 3 when put into the wheelchair and was in it for 5 years,by my reckoning he is now 8,where did you get 11 from AB Asks?

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Perhaps Munchausens By Proxy or she did it for
the additional benefits ! Whichever, the woman needs help.

Katie. x

[B00]

That's the one kebab lady!

Off to read daffy's link now, nowt like a bit of light reading whilst having elevensis (yes i know its only 10am!)

[redcrx]

Heres a link B00 http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/artic les/news/news.html?in_article_id=557829&in_pag e_id=1770

Ive always thought that munchausens was to do with seeking attention and that the 'by proxy' was getting attention via the illness of another. But the mother said she was doing it to prevent her son leaving her.

She obviously needs some serious help and i hope that she receives it whilst in prison. Its a terrible form of child cruelty, god knows what sort of permanant physical as well as mental damage has been caused to the poor boy.

[Octavius]

Factitious disorder by proxy or Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSbP), are insidious disorders in which injury is deliberately and gradually inflicted upon a person usually for gaining attention or some other benefit.

In legal precedents in the U.K, Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy does not exist as a medico-legal entity, so they can only prosecute someone on the basis of harm to another where this is evident (abuse/neglect etc). You cannot be be prosecuted for having MSbP.

The Q doesn�t really say why she considered he might leave her, so we must surnmise that she had some form of undetected psychological or personality disorder for many years prior. It seems odd though in our current climate that this child�s condition could go relatively unchallenged/untreated for so long without further tests or physiotherapy.

[Jenga]

Terrible story. Such a selfish woman!