Direct effects on the child(ren)

• If the child is of an age to understand the allegation and becomes ill or feels ill, the child has been known to plead with their parents not to be taken to the doctor/hospital lest they not be believed when they articulate symptoms of illness or more alarmingly fear being taken away from their parents and siblings. This can potentially lead to a delay in the child informing the parents that they feel ill.
• The parent(s) invariably delays, or does not take the child to the doctor / hospital as they are fearful of not being believed or of re-activating the involvement of the child protection services. Ironically, the decline in the number of visits to the doctor/hospital following the notification or allegation of abuse is often taken as validation that the confirmation/ notification of abuse was correct.
• Parents will often disclose that even when they take their child to the doctor/hospital the child is not examined or treated properly if the doctor/hospital is aware of the allegation/notification of abuse. Alternatively, the health practitioner minimises or discounts their child's reported or self-reported symptoms. The child continues to feel ill but is denied effective treatment. 
• Often the child is not provided with any sort of counselling, even though some of the children can be of an age or maturity to understand the substance of the allegation. This is especially pertinent for these children who have been led to believe that their own mother has caused their illnesses and is responsible for them being made subject to a care order. 
• the child sometimes feels guilty about being sick as they think that it is all their fault that their parent/s have been accused of making them ill.
• School teachers and educational support staff may be reluctant to follow, cooperate with, or adhere to medical/para-medical instructions if they have previously been informed about the allegation/confirmation of Msbp.
• School teachers and educational support staff may minimise or disbelieve the child's symptoms leading to an unnecessary delay in the child receiving medical care.
• School teachers and educational staff have been known to subject the child to excessive questioning about their subsequent illnesses or time off school if they remain in the care of their parent(s).
• children are subjected to maternal deprivation if removed from their mothers.
• children can develop a fear or anxiety toward doctors and child protection officers. (some children hide when they see the DOCS car arrive at their home).
• Children are afraid to tell foster career that they are ill for fear that that they will never be reunited with their natural parent.
• Siblings are afraid to tell their parents that they are ill for fear that they will be taken into care as well.
• other children are denied the possibility of growing up with their sibling if their sibling is taken into care.  

• Child/ren may have to endure social isolation and peer rejection as other parents become aware of the allegation/confirmation of abuse and prevent their children coming to their homes or playing with them. 
• If the child is old enough to understand what is going on and do not believe that their mothers have made them sick, they often develop a deep seated mistrust and distrust of health practitioners and other authority figures.
• if they are made subject to a care order and are taken into care, they are not only separated from their parents and siblings but they are also separated from the rest of their family and friends.
• endure financial and emotional deprivation as family resources are used to fight the allegation/confirmation/notification of abuse. 

F.R.A.M.E would like to thank all of the children, their siblings and their parents who were prepared to be frank and honest about their inner most thoughts, feelings, fears and doubts and without whom this paper would not have been possible.

F.R.A.M.E would like to invite other children to contribute to this paper. (Updated August 2001)