Withdraw

the FII Label

We are a campaign led by survivors, clinicians, social workers and academics

An Open Letter...

We call for:

Immediate withdrawal of the FII label and associated guidance
Creation of new, evidence-based frameworks co-produced with disabled people and parent carers
Professional training that promotes collaborative, family-centred practice, and understanding of disability and distress
A review by regulatory bodies—including the GMC, Royal Colleges, and NICE—of any guidance legitimising the use of FII
Judicial caution in accepting FII allegations without rigorous factual analysis and greater scrutiny of expert witness testimony

Recent coverage in The Sunday Times has exposed the devastating consequences of misidentifying parents - mostly mothers - as fabricating or inducing illness in their children.

It told the stories of Ella, who was separated from her mother for eight months and placed with untrained carers who failed to meet her complex needs, and Melody, whose mother watched her die in pain after medication was withdrawn during an FII investigation. We know of many more such cases. These are not abstract tragedies—they are direct, preventable outcomes of acting on flawed guidance.

FII is not a medical diagnosis.

It has no agreed criteria, no reliable method of identification, and no robust evidence base. Yet guidance intended to protect is instead causing harm— particularly to disabled and neurodivergent children with complex needs. Parents are increasingly suspected of fabrication not because of evidence, but because they persist in seeking answers, disagree with professionals, or challenge misdiagnoses. Advocacy is being pathologised.

We acknowledge that in a very small number of cases, illness may be fabricated or induced by a parent or carer. These are extremely rare and should be treated as either criminal matters or mental health concerns, using established safeguarding, forensic, or psychiatric pathways. They do not require a vague and misapplied label like FII.

A review of Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews in England (2010–2021) identified only four cases of serious harm due to confirmed fabrication or illness induction—none involving a child’s death. In contrast, hundreds of families report lasting trauma following false FII accusations: delayed treatment, forced separation, exclusion from services, and fear of seeking help again—even in emergencies.

This is not safeguarding.

It is systemic harm

The Hard Truth

The facts

Of 1,766 serious review cases, only four included an impact from FII, and in these cases the greater impact was from mis-identification of medical problems.

Read the paper

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Who we are...

Giving a voice to organisations and 359 individuals including 160 with lived experience
(last updated 23rd April)

Elizabeth Archer, CEO, PDA Society.
Dr Ana Laura Aiello, Cerebra Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Leeds.
Dr Andy Bilson, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, University of Central Lancashire
Paul Bywaters Emeritus Professor University of Huddersfield.
Jess Camburn-Rahmani, CEO, Cerebra
Elly Chapple, mother, founder of FlipTheNarrative
Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for ME.
Luke Clements, Cerebra Professor of Law & Social Justice, the University of Leeds.
Taliah Drayak, Co-Founder of Society for Family Preservation, Research Fellow, Department of Public Health, University of Cambridge
Sian Erickson, MSC SCPHN, Co Chair PFAN.
Dr Judy Eaton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Help for Psychology Services
Laura Ferguson, Independent researcher in autism and parental blame.
Lucy Fullard, CEO Parent and Carer Alliance CIC
Emma Gant, Safety First Wales.
Claire Glasman, WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities).
Amy Griffiths, BA Hons, LLM (Human Rights Law), PhD Research Candidate (Public Health), Swansea University
Dr Fiona Gullon-Scott, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Newcastle University.
Beverley Hitchcock, Director of Research & Support Services, Cerebra
Debbie Hollingsworth, Independent researcher in autism and parental blame.
Donna Kelso, Voice for Change Staffordshire
Cathleen Long, independent social worker, lead author BASW guide on FII
Tammy Mayes, Former co-chair of PFAN
Fiona MacLeod, Advisory Project Manager PAN Cymru.
Amanda Maguire Founder of Neurodiverse Adventures
Andy McDonnell CEO Studio3
Emma McGinnis, Lecturer, Ulster University, and co-chair PFAN.
Anne Neale, Support Not Separation
Tracey Norton, Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign
Sally Russell OBE, Trustee PDA Society
Jacqui Shurlock, Chief Executive, Challenging Behaviour Foundation
Diana Skelton, Head of Giving Poverty a Voice Programme, ATD Fourth World.
Dr David Thorpe, Emeritus Professor of Applied Social Science, University of Lancaster
Dr Adrian Tookman, Chairman Forgotten Patients Overlooked Diseases and Retired
Palliative Medicine Physician
Chrissa Wadlow Founder & Managing Director, Sunshine Support
Renata Watts, Co-Director, Special Needs Jungle
Dr David Wilkins, Professor of Social Work, Cardiff University
Emma Williams, Independent Child Protection

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