Abstract: Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Mother Health

Abstract:
A case of child maltreatment compatible with Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP) or medical child abuse is presented. Perpetrators in such cases are typically mothers of victims, often with a history of emotional, physical abuse or abandonment in their childhood. The perpetrators were also reported to be high users of obstetrics and gynecology services. However, the chief purpose of this report and mini-review was not so much the presentation of MBP, which is a well-known condition, but the depiction of the current and historical background in Russia. Family violence and child abuse has been rarely discussed in the Russian literature. This topic is interconnected with certain features of the healthcare, namely paternalism, authoritative management style, occasional disregard for the principles of informed consent and professional autonomy, contributing to the use of invasive procedures without sufficient indications. This is a fruitful soil for iatrogeny and medical abuse of different kind including MBP. Examples from gynecology and other fields of medicine are discussed.