Lying, with the end goal of receiving medical attention and sympathy, is not a new concept. Although it was not until the mid-1800s that Factitious disorder was officially recognized, evidence shows instances of Malingering dating back as far as the Roman times; from Odysseus in the Trojan War, to the physician Galen (Rogers 19). Munchausen Syndrome was first described by Asher in 1951, with Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy first being in diagnosed in 1977 (Feldman 1). More recently, in the last 10-15 years, the increasing popularity of the internet and the ease of access to information online has introduced the idea of health-related online deception, Munchausen by Internet (MbI) in 2000 (Feldman 1).
For decades, Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy (MSbP) had been rarely diagnosed or discussed; when asked what MSbP, most people will draw a blank. Diagnostically, MSbP had only been documented 120 times in the 50 years following its initial diagnosis (McLellan 1). In an era where information wasn’t readily …show more content…
Medical information has become one of the most searched topics on the internet, with J.D. Culver stating that 37% of daily google searches were for medical information: a symptom, treatment, prognosis etc. (3). Less scrutinizing attention is allocated to health and wellness-related claims, when posted on forums and chat-rooms where seeks support from others, as the information is viewed as “person-to-person” and not diagnostic material. Specifically, in regards to illness support boards, McLellan states “The topics run the gamut of the illness experience: the physical effects of chemotherapy, the jumble of emotions that chronic illness stirs up in families, the bureaucratic entanglements of clinics, hospitals, and insurance companies, miscommunication between doctors and patients, and gratitude for serendipitous acts of kindness”
For decades, Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy (MSbP) had been rarely diagnosed or discussed; when asked what MSbP, most people will draw a blank. Diagnostically, MSbP had only been documented 120 times in the 50 years following its initial diagnosis (McLellan 1). In an era where information wasn’t readily …show more content…
Medical information has become one of the most searched topics on the internet, with J.D. Culver stating that 37% of daily google searches were for medical information: a symptom, treatment, prognosis etc. (3). Less scrutinizing attention is allocated to health and wellness-related claims, when posted on forums and chat-rooms where seeks support from others, as the information is viewed as “person-to-person” and not diagnostic material. Specifically, in regards to illness support boards, McLellan states “The topics run the gamut of the illness experience: the physical effects of chemotherapy, the jumble of emotions that chronic illness stirs up in families, the bureaucratic entanglements of clinics, hospitals, and insurance companies, miscommunication between doctors and patients, and gratitude for serendipitous acts of kindness”