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Louisa J. Lasher,
M.A.
Munchausen by Proxy Maltreatment (MBP)
Expert Qualifications as of January 1, 2004
Qualifications and Credentials
Louisa is available to provide Munchausen by Proxy / Factitious Disorder
by Proxy (MBP / FDP) maltreatment training, case
consultation, technical assistance, and expert witness services in an
objective manner (no partiality to either side) and in the best interest
of the child or children involved. References are available upon request.
Louisa J. Lasher was employed by the Georgia Division of
Family and Children Services (DFCS) for approximately ten years. She left her
position in August 1997 to devote herself full time to MBP maltreatment multiagency-multidisciplinary training, case consultation, technical
assistance, expert witness services, and writing projects. A unique aspect she
brings to the MBP maltreatment field is a combination of extensive MBP knowledge
and experience - expertise in investigating the other kinds of abuse/neglect -
child protection case planning and case management, and knowledge and experience
related to other state/county child welfare activities and issues.
During her last four years with Georgia DFCS, Ms. Lasher
served as a State Office consultant and as State Office Medical Liaison -
providing child maltreatment training, consultation, and technical assistance to
various agencies and organizations throughout Georgia. During her last two years
with the State Office, Ms. Lasher focused on MBP maltreatment training, case
consultation, technical assistance, and expert witness testimony. Ms. Lasher has
had extensive investigative experience.
Ms. Lasher's involvement with Georgia DFCS, prior to promotion
to the State Office, included experience in "treatment" and
"placement" as well as four years as a Child Protective Services
Investigator in urban, rural, and suburban counties. As a CPS investigator, Ms.
Lasher was involved in a wide variety of child maltreatment cases. As a part of
her child sexual abuse investigative activities, Ms. Lasher conducted child and
adult investigative interviews, including videotaping.
Ms. Lasher received a B.A. from Purdue University and an M.A.
from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. She is a member of the
American College of Forensic Examiners.
EXPERT CREDENTIALS SPECIFIC TO MUNCHAUSEN BY PROXY (MBP)
MALTREATMENT
 | Formal involvement in over 400 suspected or confirmed MBP
cases, and informal involvement in hundreds of others - throughout the
United States and internationally. |
| Design and presentation of over 350 multiagency-multidisciplinary MBP training presentations throughout the
United States and internationally. General MBP subject areas covered: MBP
maltreatment identification, intervention, case planning, case management,
and legal/court related issues. |
| Chaired the first known meeting of national MBP experts in
1995. One of approximately twenty invited people to participate in the first
international meeting of MBP experts - held in 1998 in Stockholm, Sweden. |
| Wrote the proposal for the creation of the APSAC (American
Professional Society on the Abuse of Children) Factitious Disorder by Proxy
(MBP) Task Force. (Later withdrew from the Task Force due to concerns with
content and methodology regarding Task Force proposal). |
| Co-author of article, Munchausen by Proxy: A Misunderstood
Form of Abuse, appeared in the fall, 1999 issue of The Forensic Examiner |
| Lead author of article, Munchausen by Proxy Manifesting as
Child Sexual Abuse, which appears as a part of the University of Georgia web site,
regarding the forensics of child sexual abuse (link to
site). |
| Lead author of article, Celiac Disease as a Manifestation of
Factitious Disorder by Proxy, Southern Medical
Journal, January 2004. |
| Lead author of book, Munchausen by Proxy Maltreatment:
Identification, Intervention, and Case Management, -
release date scheduled for August 2004. |
| Wrote an Invited Editorial, "MBP
Maltreatment: An International Educational Challenge, Child
Maltreatment" : The International Journal, April
2004. |
| Full-time involvement in the field of Munchausen by Proxy
maltreatment |
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Last revised:
02/23/2004
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