Medical Child Abuse: When Caregivers Deceive

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Jim Hamilton, an associate professor adjunct at Yale School of Medicine, on the topic of medical child abuse. They explore the complexities of why caregivers might fabricate illnesses in their children, the significant discrepancies that pediatricians should look for, and the systemic issues that enable this form of abuse. Dr. Hamilton shares insights from his experience and research, including an innovative study using school nurses to understand the prevalence and detection of medical child abuse. The episode underscores the importance of early intervention, compassionate care, and preventing the escalation of such cases to protect children and support families. 

Time  Topic 

00:00 Introduction to Medical Child Abuse 

01:21 Dr. Jim Hamilton's Journey into Medical Deception 

04:19 Understanding Medical Child Abuse 

06:33 Indicators and Evidence of Medical Child Abuse 

09:52 The Role of Healthcare Professionals 

12:02 Complexities in Diagnosing Medical Child Abuse 

17:22 Systemic Issues and Parental Influence 

25:10 Legal Challenges and Case Studies 

26:14 The Chilling Reality of Medical Child Abuse 

27:16 Prevalence and Study Design Insights 

27:52 Understanding Medical Child Abuse: Rare or Not? 

31:15 The Role of School Nurses in Identifying Abuse 

36:04 Study Findings and Surprising Results 

43:00 The Importance of Early Intervention and Compassion 

51:40 Final Thoughts and Future Directions 

Resources

Prevalence of Suspected Medical Child Abuse in the School Setting: A Study of School Nurses - PubMed

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