Judicial failure to thrive.

The case of a toddler who developed nonorganic failure to thrive during the course of a custody determination is reported. The child demonstrated physical, emotional, and developmental aspects of failure to thrive. These signs correlated with custody ordered by the judge, during which time the child's care was alternated between parents. The symptoms resolved when the child was in the hospital and when provided stable care by his grandmother. With the increasing frequency of divorce, failure to thrive resulting from judicial decisions will probably increase. Physicians should monitor these children carefully in order to prevent serious psychosocial complications. The judicial system should expedite custody decisions, availing itself of information in child development.