An independent review of cases where children have been taken into care on the advice of expert witnesses was demanded last night by campaigning lawyer Sarah Harman, sister of Solicitor General Harriet.

Parents diagnosed with Munchausen's syndrome by proxy had hoped they would be able to get their children back in the wake of the Angela Cannings case.

Cannings, 40, was cleared of murdering two of her children when evidence from expert witnesses was ruled unsound last December.

Children's minister Margaret Hodge ordered a review of family as well as criminal cases where expert testimony is disputed. But the Court of Appeal said on Friday that the verdict did not change the responsibilities of local authorities who take youngsters into care.

The judgment came as a mother accused of poisoning her daughter 11 times saw her appeal thrown out. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It is incredible that they can say that the medical evidence was unsafe and yet they still think that I did it.'

Ms Harman, who represented her, said social services should not be allowed to review cases where they had already made a judgment.

'Most people thought it was going to be an independent review. To have social services reviewing their own cases is just not acceptable,' she said.