Kathleen: the syndrome to which you are referring is Munchausen's - it is
either self-mutilation & deception by a patient or is carried out on one's
child. I do agree it sounds much like it. In such cases psychiatric
treatment is needed.
Debbie Shinskie RN CES IBCLC in Millersburg, PA, USA
[log in to unmask]http://www.epix.net/~shinskie/
"The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea."
-Isak Dinesen