SIDS and Munchausen's

For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that all suspected cases of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) be investigated by a child abuse expert due to fears that some such deaths may be murders. UAB psychiatrist Marc Feldman, M.D., an expert in Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy (MBP), applauds the new policy. "We have seen many cases of MBP that were originally misdiagnosed as SIDS. Perhaps as many as 1 to 5 percent of SIDS deaths may actually be caused by infanticide. Involving an expert in the field of child abuse in the investigation of SIDS cases is a step toward better understanding of this behavior and a means of finding ways to prevent it." Contact Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or [email protected].