Page 71 - Getting it Right for Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire

Fabricated or Induced Illness Fabricated or induced illness is first and foremost a child protection issue. If you have any concerns at all that a child or young person may be at risk of, or subject to, fabricated or induced illness you should follow your organisation’s child protection procedures and contact social services and the police without delay. Definition Fabricated or induced illness in children is not a common form of child abuse, but practitioners should nevertheless be able to understand its significance. Although it can affect children of any age, fabricated and induced illness is most commonly identified in younger children. Fabricated Illness occurs where a parent or carer feigns, fabricates, induces or otherwise falsely creates illness in a child for whom they are responsible. Where concerns do exist about the fabrication or induction of illness in a child, practitioners must work together, considering all the available evidence, in order to reach an understanding of the reasons for the child’s signs and symptoms of illnesses. A careful medical evaluation is always required to consider a range of possible diagnoses and a range of practitioners and disciplines will be required to assess and evaluate the child’s needs and family history. Brief Overview There are three main ways the carer can fabricate or induce illness in a child. These are not mutually exclusive and include: • fabrication of signs and symptoms including fabricating the child’s past medical history; • fabrication of signs and symptoms, falsification of hospital charts, records and specimens of bodily fluids. This may also include falsification of letters and documents; and • induction of illness by a variety of means. Impact and risks of FII on the health and wellbeing of the child or young person There are likely to be long-term consequences for the child who has been the subject. The impact and risks to the child or young person include: • Children can become confused and anxious about their health to an inappropriate degree • The risk of suicide is increased • There is a significant loss of ability to make independent decisions • There is a risk of significant psychological and emotional harm • Limited development of appropriate social skills particularly in adolescence if FII remains unaddressed • Risk of social isolation from peer group • Risk of severe physical harm Getting It Right For Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire DRAFT V1.1 March 2014 Page No:71