Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions.

Abstract

The central venous line was used for feeding an infant with failure to thrive. He later developed unexplained severe transfusion-dependent anemia. Ferritin remained low despite more than 100 transfusions. The medical arguments mainly based upon iron physiology provided strong suspicion for intended bloodletting, which was documented by covert video. The mother was very active on social media lacking behavioral signs of Munchhausen by proxy during hospital contacts. Despite clear medical evidence of medical child abuse, the diagnosis was delayed by several years.