A case of factitious pedophilia.

Factitious disorder involves feigning, exaggerating, or self-inducing physical and/or psychological ailments with the goal of assuming the "sick" or "patient" role. In turn, the sick role entitles the factitious disorder patient to care, nurturance, and protection; it also exempts one from usual responsibilities. In this paper, we present the first reported case of factitious pedophilia. Although it seems counterintuitive, this middle-aged man has falsely claimed or exaggerated sexual desire for minors ostensibly to remain in a state hospital; indeed, he has remained in the same inpatient facility for more than 20 years as a result of his deceptions. At times, his reports have included disconfirmed claims of bizarre accidents and other physical travails. This case enlarges the literature on factitious psychological disorders and shows that some individuals may falsify paraphilic behaviors, although clearly minimization of these behaviors remains more common.

Infanticide and neonaticide: a review of 40 years of research literature on incidence and causes.

The prevailing public view on women who kill their babies is that they are either monsters or psychotic, or both. The psychiatric and legal communities recognize that the issue is not as simply dichotomous as this. Evidence suggests that there are important distinctions to be drawn between different types of baby deaths and that this may have implications for identification, punishment, and/or treatment of potential and actual perpetrators. This article reviews and summarizes research, incidence statistics, and judicial and clinical outcomes ranging over four decades of work and sets out various ways forward in the study and prevention of infant murder.

Bioethical issues concerning death: death, dying, and end-of-life rights.

Ethical issues about death, dying, and a person's right to make end-of-life decisions have become one of the most legally complex and culturally sensitive areas to emerge in our time. Sensitive issues associated with a terminally ill individual's right to make end-of-life decisions and the disposition of those who are unable to make such decisions for themselves will keep healthcare professionals, medical ethicists, counselors, families, lawyers, judges, and legislators busy for years to come. Americans find it difficult to deal with end-of-life issues and would rather focus on what more can be done to save a life.