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Posted (edited)

If parents in the UK for example brought a burned child to the hospital (repeatedly) and said it was spontaneous combustion (or 'he just caught on fire by himself!') would the doctor believe their claim? Or do most doctors in the UK realize that SC is an urban myth, which although inspired many hoaxes (Kay Fletcher, Jack Angel, Frank Baker etc) of people claiming they survived it, is not biologically possible? In India a family kept burning children, and doctors and the media all believed the claim of SC, and sadly they got away with it, I am worried of copycats in the UK or USA. Is it likely that a copycat in the UK or USA would get away with this? This family's claim was printed worldwide in headlines and presented as fact, with not a hint of skepticism. Instead it was presented as a ''rare medical condition''. 

Edited by LisaL
Posted (edited)

If parents in the UK for example brought a burned child to the hospital (repeatedly) and said it was spontaneous combustion (or 'he just caught on fire by himself!') would the doctor believe their claim?

Not if the doctor was competent...

 

Or do most doctors in the UK realize that SC is an urban myth, which although inspired many hoaxes (Kay Fletcher, Jack Angel, Frank Baker etc) of people claiming they survived it, is not biologically possible?

People lie for various reasons, they can also be delusional and even mistaken.

 

In India a family kept burning children, and doctors and the media all believed the claim of SC, and sadly they got away with it, I am worried of copycats in the UK or USA.

India is quite different from the USA, superstition is a very powerful force there and it could even be dangerous to question someones superstitious beliefs.

 

 

Is it likely that a copycat in the UK or USA would get away with this? This family's claim was printed worldwide in headlines and presented as fact, with not a hint of skepticism. Instead it was presented as a ''rare medical condition''.

May I ask why you are so obsessed with munchausen's by proxy? Just because someone claims something to be true doesn't make it so, there is no known biological process that would allow for someone to burst into flames.

Edited by Moontanman

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