The Politican hits Netflix today.
The show tells the story of Payton Hobart who wants to be President of the United States of America – but first, he has to be student body president at his high school.
Made by American Horror Story and Glee creator Ryan Murphy, it features Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Platt and Lucy Boynton.
Without revealing too much for those who haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, the show includes a storyline about Munchhausen’s by proxy – a mental illness where a carer acts as if the person they are looking after has a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick.
What is Munchhausen’s by proxy?
There are different types of the condition, including Munchhausen’s where a person pretends that they themselves are ill.
Munchhausen’s By Proxy, however, is specifically about making up that someone that you care for is ill.
It is also known as fabricated or induced illness (FII) and is categorised as child abuse.
It is a rare condition and usually involves a parent exaggerating symptoms or causing symptoms to make it seem like their child is ill.
What are the signs of Munchhausen’s by proxy?
The signs of the condition can vary from case to case but the NHS says that things to be aware of include:
- Persuading medical professionals that their child is unwell but they seem healthy.
- Exaggerating or lying about symptoms.
- Manipulating results to suggest the child is ill, for example putting glucose in urine samples to make it look like they have diabetes.
- Inducing symptoms of illness, for example giving them unnecessary medication or other substances.
How common is Munchhausen’s by proxy?
As many cases aren’t reported, it’s difficult to know how widespread the condition is.
One study published in 2000 estimated 89 cases in a population of 100,000 over a two year period.
What should you do if you think a child is at risk
You can contact your local social services department or telephone the NSPCC’s child protection helpline on 0808 800 5000.
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