Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Munchausen by Proxy Abuse) and The Case of Lisa Hayden-Johnson

In 2001, Lisa Hayden-Johnson was a 31-year-old married mother of two. She and her husband were living in a small village in Brixham located in Devon County in Southwest England. She and her husband welcomed a daughter sometime in 1999 followed by a son that was born in 2001. Her son was born nine weeks prematurely, weighing just 3lb 6oz. Right from the beginning, her son was said to be seriously ill and was treated in hospital after hospital for an array of issues. Once referred to as “the most ill child in Britain”, Lisa would go on to claim that her son, by the time he was 7 years old, suffered from diabetes, food allergies, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, dysphagia, a neurological disorder which reduced his mobility, a metabolic disorder, and an intolerance to sunlight. During his medical treatment, due to his complex and perplexing medical issues, Lisa’s son was subjected to explorative surgeries, physical intrusions, and interventions such as blood tests, intravenous treatments, and a gastrostomy. He was fed through a tube and confined to a wheelchair with an oxygen tank attached. This case explores the horrific nature of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA), better known as Munchausen by Proxy Abuse, an often-lethal form of child abuse that is not as rare as you’d like to think. As we often say, buckle up because this one is a wild ride.

***Make sure to tune in on Friday, March 1st to listen to the interview episode with Expert Dr. Marc Feldman and Survivor/Expert Jordyn Hope as we discuss this wildly sensationalized, yet highly misunderstood, area of Factitious Disorders (Munchausen by Proxy Abuse).***

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​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff (bltzwolff@gmail.com).

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Resources:

Factitious Disorders Information/Guide: http://www.munchausen.com

Need Support? http://www.MunchausenSupport.com

 

References:

Akwagyiram, A. (2010, January 22). Devon woman jailed for “sick son” con. BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/8473949.stm

Akwagyiram, A. (2010b, January 22). The mother who created her son’s phantom illness. BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8472655.stm

9News. (2014, February 25). Mum of “sickest boy in Britian” jailed for Cruelty. https://www.9news.com.au/world/mum-of-sickest-boy-in-britian-jailed-for-cruelty/015f7225-d424-4caa-989f-beb11dd73b34

Davies, B. (2010a, January 22). The first picture of the woman who forced her healthy son into a wheelchair and convinced doctors he was sick. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1222568/The-picture-woman-forced-healthy-son-wheelchair-convinced-doctors-sick.html

Guernsey Press. (2005, June 3). Home from home. https://guernseypress.com/news/2005/06/03/home-from-home/

Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board. (2004). Local safeguarding children boards - procedures online. Procedures Online. https://proceduresonline.com/trixcms/media/6632/fabricated-induced-illness2.pdf

Morris, S. (2010, January 22). Mother jailed for faking son’s illness. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jan/22/mother-jailed-boy-fake-illness

Newman, M. (2018, April 18). Concerns over fake illness cases in troubled Gosh Department. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (en-GB). https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2018-04-18/treating-fii-the-gosh-approach/

Pham, S. (2011a, April 7). Arizona mother accused of Poisoning Baby; May be munchausen syndrome by proxy. ABC News. https://abcnews-nwsdynamic.aws.seabcnews.go.com/Health/arizona-mother-accused-poisoning-baby-munchausen-syndrome-proxy/story?id=13308998

Salkeld, L. (2010, January 23). Pictured at children of Courage Awards, the mother who sent healthy son to school in wheelchair in six-year scam. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1245241/Lisa-Hayden-Johnson-Mother-sent-healthy-son-school-wheelchair-year-scam-prove-sickest-boy-Britain-facing-jail.html

Savill, R. (2010, January 22). Mother jailed for faking son’s illness for X factor tickets. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7054486/Mother-jailed-for-faking-sons-illness-for-X-Factor-tickets.html

Smith, R. (2010, January 23). Sadistic mum who tortured her son by inventing fake illnesses jailed. The Mirror. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/sadistic-mum-who-tortured-her-son-196770

Taylor, J. (2010, January 22). Mum jailed over “most ill child” pretence. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/mum-jailed-over-most-ill-child-pretence-1876199.html