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Justice out of Balance Continued from page 42 The evidence is that munchausen syndrome _ little political will to reform what he calls a by proxy or fabricated illness "diagnosis" "dysfunctional" and "destructive" child However, I have seen the office's letters to should be abandoned. The label is protection system. "Politicians and the Meadow and the information it required. unhelpful. It is necessary to look at the medical and mental health professions have Hayward-Brown voiced her concerns facts of a case, rather than use a prejudicial avoided any change, despite the evidence about the fact that the "diagnosis" of MSBP label that presumes guilt. Governments, _ that the child protection system is unjust, is not being properly addressed in Australia. child protection doctors, social workers and ineffective and incompetent." Fishman "No one wants to change the status quo and _ police seem intent and content to ignore the agrees there's a legitimate need for child upset the careers of many doctors and social _ issue. protection programs, but he said the current workers. It should be noted that there is a Hayward-Brown said that there are _ US system is ineffective and dysfunctional. great deal of status and prestige for doctors major and disturbing problems in the He believes that unless and until there is a and psychologists who specialise in this procedures and attitudes of the medical and groundswell of public outrage, we'l area. It is a thriving industry, providing social service professions in relation to continue to see that "figures lie and liars work for many individuals who would be MSBP, and that she wonders how the __ figure". better employed in other areas." medical profession can prove that an Pragnell holds that child protection Fishman went further by claiming that the MSBP diagnosis is indeed positive. "These systems are deeply flawed, erratic an concocted "diagnosis" of MSBP has _ cases rarely rely on robust evidence and dysfunctional, and that total reform with become a vehicle for prestige and seldom consider alternatives for a child's safeguards to minimise the incidence of recognition. illness. Additionally, there is a reluctance false accusations is required. "There is Hayward-Brown suggested there's beena to accept that we may not know what is now a worldwide storm brewing regarding reluctance by authorities to review cases, as_— wrong with a child. Ambiguity, throughout child protection injustices," he said, "an this would provide a pathway for history and across cultures, has been shown governments across the globe should take negligence claims. to be poorly tolerated and often regarded as__ notice as the current situation will no It is difficult to see how governments ‘polluted’. A child with an ambiguous __ longer be tolerated." worldwide, which have followed the _ illness and his/her family are therefore seen There is a punitive approach by fabricated-illness child protection policies as polluted, sinful and morally inadequate. authorities in munchausen syndrome by in line with British practice, can fail to This forms an excellent pathway for the roxy cases towards parents and their conduct an official review such as the UK MSBP trajectory." children, who need support rather than is undertaking—even in its limited sense. Politicians, according to Fishman, have unishment and suspicion. Compassion is little political will to reform what he calls a "dysfunctional" and "destructive" child protection system. "Politicians and the medical and mental health professions have avoided any change, despite the evidence that the child protection system is unjust, ineffective and incompetent." Fishman agrees there's a legitimate need for child protection programs, but he said the current US system is ineffective and dysfunctional. He believes that unless and until there is a groundswell of public outrage, we'l continue to see that "figures lie and liars figure". Pragnell holds that child protection systems are deeply flawed, erratic an dysfunctional, and that total reform with safeguards to minimise the incidence o false accusations is required. "There is now a worldwide storm brewing regarding child protection injustices," he said, "an governments across the globe should take notice as the current situation will no longer be tolerated." There is a punitive approach by authorities in munchausen syndrome by proxy cases towards parents and their children, who need support rather than punishment and suspicion. Compassion is 76 + NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2004