Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions

Henrik Hasle; Lise Frost; Klaus Birkelund Johansen; Gitte Hesthaven Jørgensen

doi:10.1002/pbc.31612

Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions

Henrik Hasle^*, Lise Frost, Klaus Birkelund Johansen, Gitte Hesthaven Jørgensen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The central venous line was used for feeding an infant with failure to thrive. He later developed unexplained severe transfusion-dependent anemia. Ferritin remained low despite more than 100 transfusions. The medical arguments mainly based upon iron physiology provided strong suspicion for intended bloodletting, which was documented by covert video. The mother was very active on social media lacking behavioral signs of Munchhausen by proxy during hospital contacts. Despite clear medical evidence of medical child abuse, the diagnosis was delayed by several years.

Original language	English
Article number	e31612
Journal	Pediatric Blood and Cancer
Volume	72
Issue	5
ISSN	1545-5009
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.31612
Publication status	Published - May 2025

Keywords

anemia
anemias
transfusion medicine

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10.1002/pbc.31612Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions",

abstract = "The central venous line was used for feeding an infant with failure to thrive. He later developed unexplained severe transfusion-dependent anemia. Ferritin remained low despite more than 100 transfusions. The medical arguments mainly based upon iron physiology provided strong suspicion for intended bloodletting, which was documented by covert video. The mother was very active on social media lacking behavioral signs of Munchhausen by proxy during hospital contacts. Despite clear medical evidence of medical child abuse, the diagnosis was delayed by several years.",

keywords = "anemia, anemias, transfusion medicine",

author = "Henrik Hasle and Lise Frost and Johansen, {Klaus Birkelund} and J{\o}rgensen, {Gitte Hesthaven}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Pediatric Blood & Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.",

year = "2025",

month = may,

doi = "10.1002/pbc.31612",

language = "English",

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journal = "Pediatric Blood and Cancer",

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Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions. / Hasle, Henrik ; Frost, Lise; Johansen, Klaus Birkelund et al.
In: Pediatric Blood and Cancer, Vol. 72, No. 5, e31612, 05.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions

AU - Hasle, Henrik

AU - Frost, Lise

AU - Johansen, Klaus Birkelund

AU - Jørgensen, Gitte Hesthaven

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - The central venous line was used for feeding an infant with failure to thrive. He later developed unexplained severe transfusion-dependent anemia. Ferritin remained low despite more than 100 transfusions. The medical arguments mainly based upon iron physiology provided strong suspicion for intended bloodletting, which was documented by covert video. The mother was very active on social media lacking behavioral signs of Munchhausen by proxy during hospital contacts. Despite clear medical evidence of medical child abuse, the diagnosis was delayed by several years.

AB - The central venous line was used for feeding an infant with failure to thrive. He later developed unexplained severe transfusion-dependent anemia. Ferritin remained low despite more than 100 transfusions. The medical arguments mainly based upon iron physiology provided strong suspicion for intended bloodletting, which was documented by covert video. The mother was very active on social media lacking behavioral signs of Munchhausen by proxy during hospital contacts. Despite clear medical evidence of medical child abuse, the diagnosis was delayed by several years.

KW - anemia

KW - anemias

KW - transfusion medicine

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U2 - 10.1002/pbc.31612

DO - 10.1002/pbc.31612

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39979682

AN - SCOPUS:85218171788

SN - 1545-5009

VL - 72

JO - Pediatric Blood and Cancer

JF - Pediatric Blood and Cancer

IS - 5

M1 - e31612

ER -

Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions

Abstract

Keywords

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