Show Notes
Child abuse pediatricians have become increasingly villainized in the media despite being among the most specialized and cautious doctors in child abuse medicine. Andrea looks at what these doctors actually do and why their role is so often misunderstood.
Andrea also explores the rise of paid defense experts who offer alternative explanations in abuse cases that fall far outside the medical consensus.
Featuring Experts:
Dr. Stephen Boos, Child Abuse Pediatrician
Matthew Torbenson, Assistant District Attorney
Dr. Jill Glick, Child Abuse Pediatrician
***
Try out Andrea’s Podcaster Coaching App: https://studio.com/apps/andrea/podcaster
Order Andrea’s book The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-mother-next-door-9781250284273/
View our sponsors: https://www.nobodyshouldbelieveme.com/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 bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/@NobodyShouldBelieveMePod
Follow Andrea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreadunlop/
Buy Andrea's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Andrea-Dunlop/author/B005VFWJPI
For more information and resources on Munchausen by Proxy, please visit: https://www.munchausensupport.com/
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s MBP Practice Guidelines: https://apsac.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Munchausen-by-Proxy-Clinical-and-Case-Management-Guidance-.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Nobody Should Believe Me
Andrea catches up with retired Detective Mike Weber, co-author of The Mother Next Door, to discuss updates on the three cases covered in their book. They also discuss the ongoing challenges of investigating medical child abuse, and the importance of training and accountability in protecting vulnerable children.
Andrea is joined by science journalist Tara Haelle for a conversation about vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, and the rise of science denialism. They discuss common concerns about vaccine safety, and Tara shares her thoughts on how to approach conversations about vaccines with curiosity rather than judgment.
As the fallout from John Cox’s case fractures the staff at Children’s Wisconsin, communication breaks down and other children are left at risk. With NBC journalist Mike Hixenbaugh’s reporting helping fuel the growing divide, the story of John Cox becomes part of a much larger battle over child abuse pediatrics and whose voices get heard.
Fifteen year-old Stacie Love was just a sophomore when she met the young, charismatic English teacher, Brett Fischer. He was the "cool" teacher, and she wanted to be his favorite student. Twenty years later, Stacie sees the dynamic differently—and wonders if what felt like happenstance was something far more calculated.
John Cox’s plea deal brings the criminal case to an end, but the story is far from over. As Cox and his wife turn their attention to a lawsuit against Children’s Wisconsin, the damage from the case, and the media narrative surrounding it, balloons.