Fabricated or induced illness (FII)
FII describes behaviours by a parent or carer that may result
in harm, including:
■■Deliberately inducing symptoms by administering
medication or other substances, or by intentional suffocation
■■ Interfering with treatments by overdosing, not administering
medication, or interfering with equipment
■■Claiming the child has symptoms that are unverifiable
■■Exaggerating symptoms, which may result in unnecessary
investigations or treatments
■■Falsifying test results and observation charts
■■Obtaining specialist treatments or equipment for children
that are not needed
■■Alleging psychological illness in a child. (RCPCH, 2009)
FII is associated with significant mortality (around 6%),
long-term or permanent injury (7.3%) and long-term
impairment of children’s psychological and emotional
development (Sheridan, 2003).