Yesterday, a mom who is also a registered nurse and nurse educator was charged with medical child abuse (legal term for what used to be called Munchausen by Proxy syndrome).

Dr G. will you please consider reviewing this case?


http://www.syracuse.com/news/i...2009/10/post_40.html

Cicero mom accused of medical abuse of her 9-year-old son
By Jim O'Hara / The Post-Standard
October 16, 2009, 12:27PM

Syracuse, NY - A Cicero woman was arraigned today on charges she has been subjecting her 9-year-old child to medical abuse for the last nine years.

Anne Bernardo, 40, was arraigned before Onondaga County Judge Joseph Fahey on a sealed indictment charging her with a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Assistant District Attorney Melinda McGunnigle said Bernardo is accused of fabricating symptoms and illnesses in order to subject her son to unnecessary medical procedures. Given the lengthy history of the alleged conduct, it's not clear if the child really has anything medically wrong with him, the prosecutor said.

Bernardo is accused of committing acts of medical child abuse against her son from 2000 through 2009. The child will be 10 next month.

McGunnigle said acts of medical child abuse is the legal term for what used to be called Munchausen by Proxy syndrome.

Attorney Peter Grenis told Fahey in court the criminal charge grew out of a case that has been battled in family court for much of the last two years. Outside court, Grenis declined comment on the family court case where he represented Bernardo.

McGunnigle said the district attorney's office began investigating the case several months ago and accumulated evidence independent of the family court proceeding.

Fahey allowed Bernardo to be released on her own recognizance with the approval of the prosecution. Bernardo is due back in court Tuesday before state Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti.

McGunnigle said Bernardo was arrested at work Thursday after the grand jury handed up the sealed indictment and a warrant was issued. She said she and District Attorney William Fitzpatrick will be prosecuting the case given the seriousness of the allegations.

Despite that, the misdemeanor charge was the only criminal charge that could be filed, McGunnigle said. It is rare for the prosecutor's office to obtain indictments in misdemeanor cases like this.