Sunday Sun                                                                               July 06, 2003

Mum slams advice from expert

A North mum has revealed how her family was torn apart when her two kids were taken away following advice by the protege of discredited expert Professor Roy Meadow.

She has not seen them for three years and her only contact is through the four letters a year she is allowed to send them.

Her tragic tale began in 1998 when she became concerned about the treatment of her son - who suffers from cerebral palsy and autism - by a North hospital.

She was referred to Professor David Southall, a paediatric specialist in Staffordshire.

Professor Southall studied under Professor Meadow and both were seen as experts in Munchausen syndrome by proxy, MSBP, a condition where mothers harm their children to get attention for themselves.

So-called "Meadow's Law" in relation to cot death - one is a tragedy, two is suspicious and three is murder - has come under fire following the Trupti Patel and Sally Clark murder cases.

The North mum claimed: "I only met Southall for 15 minutes but I later discovered he was accusing me of MSBP."

At another assessment she said he became very interested when told her mum had lost three children to cystic fibrosis 33-years earlier.

Later that year two social workers appeared at the family's home in Tyne and Wear. Her son was assessed then placed on the At Risk register and taken into care.

"The day he was taken away was the day I died inside. Being autistic he couldn't understand what was happening.

"He was constantly crying and asking to come home. It was terrible."

In early 1999, after they were told their daughter had to go before a Family Proceedings Court, the family went on the run before being tracked down by police to a house in Scotland.

The girl was taken into care, while her mum and gran were jailed for nine months for abduction.

The mum claimed: "The final hearing in the Family Proceedings Court was told that my mum was the major Munchausen person in the family.

"There was talk of the Crown Prosecution Service bringing murder charges against her."

Genetic tests have revealed the family have a faulty gene associated with cystic fibrosis.

The distraught mum added: "I haven't seen my children since. All I'm allowed is four censored letters a year.

"I will never stop fighting until I get my kids back."

A spokesman for Professor Southall said: "The duty of patient confidentiality prevents any doctor from commenting on the details of individual cases.

"Decisions in child protection cases aren't taken by any one individual.

"Cases are dealt with through Area Child Protection Committees who have representation and opinion from doctors, social workers, the police and other professionals."

  Sunday Sun                                                                               July 06, 2003

Mums treated 'like witches'

North MP and human rights expert Vera Baird has slammed court rulings that have led to hundreds of children being taken off their parents as "ducking-stool justice".

Professor Roy Meadow, of North Yorkshire, has often been called on to back up cases against mums accused of harming their kids by claiming they were seeking attention for themselves.

Their behaviour has been attributed to the controversial condition Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, known as MSBP for short.

Ms Baird said: "One of Meadow's criteria for MSBP states if a mother says she didn't do it then she is in denial. MSBP is ducking-stool justice.

"Just as a woman accused of witchcraft centuries ago was only pronounced innocent if she drowned and was guilty if she survived, those mothers accused of abusing their children are assumed to be guilty if they deny the charges."

Redcar MP and former lawyer Ms Baird added: "I cross-examined Meadow as a young barrister and I was extremely worried then by the evidence that he was giving about MSBP.

"In light of this I have written to the Prime Minister asking for a judicial inquiry into all MSBP cases so they can be reviewed."

Prosecutors are now contacting all defence teams involved in cases in which Meadow gave evidence as his testimony is no longer seen as reliable. We were unable to contact Mr Meadow, now retired, for comment.

"In light of this I have written to the Prime Minister asking for a judicial inquiry into all MSBP cases so they can be reviewed."

Prosecutors are now contacting all defence teams involved in cases in which Meadow gave evidence as his testimony is no longer seen as reliable. We were unable to contact Mr Meadow, now retired, for comment.