In this episode, Andrea and Dr. Bex discuss mitochondrial disorders, which Dr. Bex has seen first-hand in her pediatric patients, and their connection to medical child abuse, most notably in the Justina Pelletier case. Like most illnesses seen in Munchausen by Proxy cases, while there are tests that doctors run, mitochondrial disorders present challenges in distinguishing genuine cases because of the array of symptoms they present. They discuss how support groups and websites–while so important for families dealing with complex chronic illnesses–can serve as playbooks for offenders. Andrea and Dr. Bex take listeners through the website for Mitoaction.org and its advice that appears to be directed squarely at perpetrators of medical child abuse. * * * Visit mitoaction.org Preorder Andrea's new book The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy. Click here to view our sponsors. Remember that using our codes helps advertisers know you’re listening and helps us keep making the show! Subscribe on YouTube where we have full episodes and lots of bonus content. Follow Andrea on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos: @andreadunlop Buy Andrea's books here. For more information and resources on Munchausen by Proxy, please visit MunchausenSupport.com The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s MBP Practice Guidelines can be downloaded here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Full Episode
True Story Media. Hello, it's Andrea Dunlop, and today I am unlocking an episode of our subscriber show, Nobody Should Believe Me After Hours. If you already subscribe to the show, you will know that I co-host twice monthly bonus episodes with my dear friend, Dr. Bex from Florida.
On this side of the feed, we cover all kinds of Munchausen by proxy adjacent things with a bit of a focus recently on child abuse stories in the media. We covered the Ruby Frankie story last month and coming up, we're going to be talking about the Menendez brothers. We're also going to dive into the Elizabeth Finch Grey's Anatomy Munchausen saga that has been back in the news recently.
Lots of requests for that one. Today, we are taking a little side quest to dive into a group that came up in our coverage of the Justina Pelletier case, MitoAction.org. This, as you may remember from my conversation with Beau Berman, is a group that purports to be a resource for parents of children with mitochondrial diseases, but as you will hear, may have some other motives.
Just to note that after this episode originally aired on the Patreon, MitoAction.org did appear to make some changes to their website, so those will not be reflected in this discussion. However, the site still prominently features information about, quote, false accusations of medical child abuse, so no reason to believe that the overall ethos has shifted.
As always, check out the subscriber feed on Patreon or Apple Podcasts for much more. Leave us five stars on Apple and Spotify if you have a moment. And let us know your thoughts by shooting us a message at hello at nobody should believe me dot com. That information is in the show notes as well. Now, here's the episode.
Just a quick reminder that my new book, The Mother Next Door, Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy, is on sale right now wherever books are sold. The book was an Amazon editor's pick for nonfiction, and the Seattle Times called it a riveting deep dive into MVP. And if you are an audiobook lover and you like hearing my voice, which I'm assuming you do since you're listening here...
You should know that I narrate the audio book as well. If you have already read the book, which I know so many of you have, thank you so much. Please let me know your thoughts and questions at helloandnobodieshouldbelieveme.com and we will bring my co-author, Detective Mike Weber, on for a little book Q&A and post-retirement tell-all special. Thanks for your support. Hello, subscribers.
Thank you so much for being with us in another special bonus episode. Thank you for supporting the show. This is the single best way to help us keep making money. all the things that we're making. And this subscriber feed has become like its own second little podcast. And on that note with me, I have, again, my fabulous second Nobody Should Believe Me podcast co-host, our very own Dr. Bex.
Hi, Dr. Bex. How are you doing today?
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