Call to withdraw FII guidance
In an Open Letter to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, a number of researchers and NGOs called for the withdrawal of its guidance concerning FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness). By letter of the 1st August 2024, the Royal College refused.
In a Press Statement issued this week, the signatories to the Open Letter express their concern about the discriminatory and traumatic impact that the guidance is having on families. It pointed to independent research and evidence from practice about these serious problems and expressed the view that no reasonable body (let alone one exercising public functions) could fail to take such urgent action.
The signatories to the Open Letter were Dr Ana Laura Aiello (University of Leeds), Dr Peter Baker (University of Kent), Professor Andy Bilson (University of Central Lancashire), Sonya Chowdhury (Action for ME), Professor Luke Clements (University of Leeds), Dr Judy Eaton (Help for Psychology Services), Dr Fiona Gullon-Scott (Newcastle University), Beverley Hitchcock (Cerebra), Cathleen Long (Vivacity Independent Social Work), Tammy Mayes (Parents, Families and Allies Network), and Diana Skelton (ATD Fourth World).
The Press Statement contains comments from the signatories concerning the need for the withdrawal of the FII guidance and details of relevant research that raises concerns about the potential (and actual) adverse / discriminatory impacts on families of the guidance. In my comment, I state:
Where research evidence concerning a policy suggests that it may result in severe and adverse trauma and disability discrimination (against both disabled parents and disabled children), and research then finds that this appears to be happening in practice, the author of that policy is duty bound to take urgent action to assess and, if needs be, to address this impact. In the present case the Royal College has known of this problem for a considerable period of time and yet it has decided to delay taking action until a convenient moment arises (ie a periodic review). In my opinion this is unacceptable.
The Royal College’s response to the Open Letter has been copied to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as the Commission had asked that it be kept informed of any such response.
Next steps
If you are concerned about (and / or believe that you have been adversely affected by) the Royal College’s FII guidance, there are actions that you can take.
A first step might be to write to your local MP (and if in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland – your Member of the Senedd (MS), Scottish Parliament (MSP) or the Legislative Assembly (MLA) – details of how to find these members are below). MPs. MS’s, MSPs and MLA’s need to know of your concerns and experiences. They have the power to raise this issue with their governments, and in particular with the Ministers / Secretaries of States for Education, Health and Social Care. Government guidance in all four nations endorse, in one way or another, the Royal College guidance concerning FII. In England, for example, this is the case with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Education and NHS England. Letters to members could highlight the discriminatory, disproportionate and adverse impacts experienced by families wrongly accused of FII and ask that their governments undertake an urgent review of their endorsement of this guidance. It could also be pointed out that alternative guidance, issued by the British Association of Social Work (BASW) exists which could (and in my opinion ‘should’) be used instead.
- To find your local Member of the Senedd (MS) click here.
- To find your local Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) click here.
- To find your local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Northern Ireland click here.
- To find your local MP click here.
Mark Isherwood, a Member of the Senedd, provides a welcome example of positive action of this kind. Mark had been contacted by parents of neurodiverse children in North-East Wales who – in his words – “have been, and continue to be, impacted by wrongful allegations of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII)”. Earlier this year Mark raised these concerns with the Minister for Health and Social Service (now the First Minister of Wales). He referred to our research report on ‘The prevalence and impact of allegations of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII)’, and asked the Minister to “ensure the report’s messages are understood by Local Authority Children’s Services, Schools and NHS practitioners across Wales”.
We hope that other organisations – including those representing disabled people and carers – will use their influence to bring pressure to bear on the Royal College and the Government to bring about urgent and much needed reform in this area,
One would hope that action of this kind will lead to a rethink by the Royal College and avoid the need for a more formal challenges to the guidance.
- A copy of the Open Letter to the Royal College can be accessed by clicking here.
- A copy of the Royal College’s letter in response can be accessed by clicking here.
- A copy of the Press Statement can be accessed by clicking here.
- A copy of our research report on ‘The prevalence and impact of allegations of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII)’, can be accessed by clicking here.
- The Royal College’s most recent guidance concerning FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness) can be accessed by clicking here.
Posted 8 August 2024