When Jo begins sharing their experiences online, they get a request from the producers of nationally broadcast television show “The Doctors” to tell their story to an audience of millions. During their dramatic confrontation on air, Donna continues to gaslight Jo and deny the abuse; Jo nonetheless finds healing and release in opening up about the truth. But even as Jo begins to break away, Donna finds ways to pull them back in and distort their reality. *** Links/Resources: Watch Jo’s episode of The Doctors 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. To support the show, go to Patreon.com/NobodyShouldBelieveMe or subscribe on Apple Podcasts where you can get all episodes early and ad-free and access exclusive bonus content. 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices
Before we begin, a quick warning that in this show we discuss child abuse and this content may be difficult for some listeners.
If you or anyone you know is a victim or survivor of medical child abuse, please go to munchausensupport.com to connect with professionals who can help.
Over the last several years, there has been a major uptick in media coverage about Munchausen by proxy.
Some of this was due to the sensational case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who conspired to murder her abusive mother in 2015 and spent seven years in prison.
This story has spawned an HBO documentary, a dramatized series on Hulu, two lifetime reality shows featuring Gypsy herself, and an untold amount of breathless media coverage about everything from Gypsy's turbulent love life to her cosmetic procedures.
The fervor over the gypsy story is illustrative of how we relate to this issue.
It's at once a deep taboo and at the same time a lurid point of fascination.
And in between, we often lose sight of the real people at the center of it.
Munchausen by proxy is an inherently shocking phenomenon, and it's easy to sensationalize.
So it's no surprise that the topic has found a home on many daytime talk shows, including Doctor Phil, who has covered numerous cases, including gypsies.
Media coverage often fixates on the gruesome details, the shocking number of procedures and medications that a child has been subjected to, and the why of it all.
And while its understandable to be fascinated by someone who commits such an unthinkable act, this unfortunately centers the perpetrator.
But what about the person who endured all of this?
That was a story that needed to be told.
And when Joe decided to take it on, it changed everything.
People believe their eyes.
Thats something that is so central to this topic because we do believe the people that we love when theyre telling us something.
If we didnt, you could never make it through your day.
Im Andrea Dunlop and this is nobody should believe me.
Did you know that I have a new book coming out, true story.