Allan Shafer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Address: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Papers by Allan Shafer
Routledge eBooks, Nov 8, 2022
Medical Journal of Australia, Feb 3, 2003
Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technologi... more Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technological paediatrics to facilitate the form of child abuse labelled "Munchausen by proxy syndrome". Examining this form of child abuse highlights possible shortcomings of medical practice. The primary medical tasks of diagnosing and curing illness and of preventing suffering are sometimes overridden by other motivations of which doctors may not be fully aware. More open discussion of what motivates health professionals in their work may improve medical practice and lead to a reduced incidence of Munchausen by proxy syndrome.
In a paper I recently wrote exploring the key themes of past major Group Relations conferences ru... more In a paper I recently wrote exploring the key themes of past major Group Relations conferences run by the Australian Institute of Socio-Analysis1 I described the development of what I called the socio-analytic mind in Australia. AISA is the organisation which has run Group ...
The rare form of child abuse known as Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (MBPS) illustrates some of the... more The rare form of child abuse known as Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (MBPS) illustrates some of the problematic features of the technological practice of modern western technological medicine. In perpetrating MBPS, a caregiver (usually the mother) fabricates or induces illness in a dependent child, and the doctor mistakes the symptoms for some illness. The mother's with the apparent goal is of facilitating her own interaction with doctors. There has been extensive literature on MBPS, but little has been published that comments on what MBPS and similar scenarios can teach us about medical practice. We will discuss how doctors and others might be unwittingly complicit in the cruel mistreatment of children and what this may reveal and conceal about the hospital medical system as an institution with socially defensive1 capabilities. In this paper we will hold in mind three hypotheses which might bear further exploration:
allanshafer.com
Page 1. 1 MENTAL HEALTH ORGANISATIONS AND THE PROBLEM OF MANAGEMENT.ALLAN SHAFER MA (CLINICAL P... more Page 1. 1 MENTAL HEALTH ORGANISATIONS AND THE PROBLEM OF MANAGEMENT.ALLAN SHAFER MA (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY) DLITT ET PHIL PAPER PRESENTED TO THE OPUS CONFERENCE: ORGANISATIONAL AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS: ...
The Medical journal of Australia, Jan 3, 2003
Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technologi... more Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technological paediatrics to facilitate the form of child abuse labelled "Munchausen by proxy syndrome". Examining this form of child abuse highlights possible shortcomings of medical practice. The primary medical tasks of diagnosing and curing illness and of preventing suffering are sometimes overridden by other motivations of which doctors may not be fully aware. More open discussion of what motivates health professionals in their work may improve medical practice and lead to a reduced incidence of Munchausen by proxy syndrome.
Routledge eBooks, Nov 8, 2022
Medical Journal of Australia, Feb 3, 2003
Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technologi... more Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technological paediatrics to facilitate the form of child abuse labelled "Munchausen by proxy syndrome". Examining this form of child abuse highlights possible shortcomings of medical practice. The primary medical tasks of diagnosing and curing illness and of preventing suffering are sometimes overridden by other motivations of which doctors may not be fully aware. More open discussion of what motivates health professionals in their work may improve medical practice and lead to a reduced incidence of Munchausen by proxy syndrome.
In a paper I recently wrote exploring the key themes of past major Group Relations conferences ru... more In a paper I recently wrote exploring the key themes of past major Group Relations conferences run by the Australian Institute of Socio-Analysis1 I described the development of what I called the socio-analytic mind in Australia. AISA is the organisation which has run Group ...
The rare form of child abuse known as Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (MBPS) illustrates some of the... more The rare form of child abuse known as Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (MBPS) illustrates some of the problematic features of the technological practice of modern western technological medicine. In perpetrating MBPS, a caregiver (usually the mother) fabricates or induces illness in a dependent child, and the doctor mistakes the symptoms for some illness. The mother's with the apparent goal is of facilitating her own interaction with doctors. There has been extensive literature on MBPS, but little has been published that comments on what MBPS and similar scenarios can teach us about medical practice. We will discuss how doctors and others might be unwittingly complicit in the cruel mistreatment of children and what this may reveal and conceal about the hospital medical system as an institution with socially defensive1 capabilities. In this paper we will hold in mind three hypotheses which might bear further exploration:
allanshafer.com
Page 1. 1 MENTAL HEALTH ORGANISATIONS AND THE PROBLEM OF MANAGEMENT.ALLAN SHAFER MA (CLINICAL P... more Page 1. 1 MENTAL HEALTH ORGANISATIONS AND THE PROBLEM OF MANAGEMENT.ALLAN SHAFER MA (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY) DLITT ET PHIL PAPER PRESENTED TO THE OPUS CONFERENCE: ORGANISATIONAL AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS: ...
The Medical journal of Australia, Jan 3, 2003
Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technologi... more Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technological paediatrics to facilitate the form of child abuse labelled "Munchausen by proxy syndrome". Examining this form of child abuse highlights possible shortcomings of medical practice. The primary medical tasks of diagnosing and curing illness and of preventing suffering are sometimes overridden by other motivations of which doctors may not be fully aware. More open discussion of what motivates health professionals in their work may improve medical practice and lead to a reduced incidence of Munchausen by proxy syndrome.