Fabricated or induced illness (FII) is a term used by professionals when they believe a parent or carer is trying to convince doctors and other professionals that a child is “more seriously ill than is the case”.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), in its recently updated guidance, says that FII can involve cases where the parent truly believes their perception of their child's difficulties, with no intention to deceive, or caregivers that deliberately induce symptoms in their child. The suggestion is that FII can cause emotional and physical abuse.
Professional consensus
There is, however, a lack of professional consensus on the definition of FII, which some experts say is leading to the rise in FII allegations among parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
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