Theory puts ‘5,000’ in care

It is estimated that 5,000 British children may have been taken into care over the past 15 years as a result of Professor Meadow’s theory of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy.

The theory that some mothers harm their children to draw attention to themselves has been largely discredited as a result of a series of high-profile court cases.

Prof Meadow's theory has been discredited as a result of three cases in which he gave evidence of women who were wrongly accused of killing their children.