The Intersection of Medical Child Abuse and Medical Complexity

Abstract

Children with medical complexity and victims of medical child abuse may have similar clinical presentations. Atypical or unexplained signs and symptoms due to rare diseases may lead providers to suspect medical child abuse when not present. Conversely, medical child abuse may be the cause of or coexist with medical complexity. Careful consideration of whether or not medical child abuse is present is essential when assessing a child with medical complexity since either diagnosis has significant consequences for children and families.

Keywords: Caregiver-fabricated illness; Child abuse; Child maltreatment; Children and youth with special healthcare needs; Medical child abuse; Medical complexity; Munchausen syndrome by proxy.