Also known as factitious disorder imposed on another, Munchausen by proxy is a condition in which a caregiver creates the appearance of health problems in another person, typically their own child.
This may include injuring the proxy or altering test samples.
Permanent injury or death of the proxy may occur as a result of the disorder.
Although the caregiver typically does not benefit from their own behaviour, there are notable cases where the caregiver defrauds charities, insurance companies or local friends and family under the guise of using the resources received for the aid of the proxy.
The name is derived from Munchausen syndrome, which in turn derives from the famous liar in literature, Baron Munchausen; the character was in turn derived from the historical Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Freiherr von Münchhausen.