Bantam Books Description: This is the story of the trial of a child protection social
worker who was charged with murdering her adopted Korean child. The book is
divided into four sections: The Formula, The Investigation, The Trial, and The
Aftermath. The mother was accused of feeding her daughter a formula made up of
salt and the child was diagnosed with Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. The mother
was found guilty and sentenced to six years at the correctional institution for
women in California. Although found guilty, she protested that the prosecutor
had brainwashed her into believing she had murdered her own child. The book
raises disturbing questions about the number of child abuse cases the mother
investigated in her role as a social worker and whether she was really guilty of
the offense. Discussion: The book, while sometimes confusing on details, is very readable. It emphasizes the fact that forcing physicians to be detectives may not be the best use of their skills. No physician is prepared for being given the wrong history by the parents, or the mother tampering with the child's bottle. The book's greatest value is in facilitating an understanding of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Reviewed by LeRoy Schultz, Professor of Social Work, West Virginia University.
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