Last month, the Denver Post reported that hospital delays across the country are putting babies at risk for disabilities.
While it may seem obvious, the Post article had some alarming statistics and examples of delays relating to birth and genetic testing that were baffling. According to the Post, nearly every baby born in the U.S. has its blood collected within a day or two following birth, to be screened for genetic and metabolic disorders. This is done so disorders can be detected quickly, averting possible death or limiting brain damage and further disabilities.
However, according to the Post, many healthcare providers are having issues with the speed or processing times associated with testing. Using statistics provided by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Post reported that last year, of the nearly 3 million screening tests performed, an estimated 160,000 from 31 states arrived late to labs.
Among the other findings in the Post article:
- Labs in half the country are closed on weekends and holidays
- In nearly three-quarters of the country, hospitals are supposed to send samples using overnight delivery or courier services, yet in many cases the samples arrive days later and in some cases sent via the U.S. Postal Service’s regular mail
- Most state-run programs do not following guidelines when it comes to standardized newborn screening systems
“If we set up a system and undermine its effectiveness, why have we invested so much in the system?” said Dr. Edward McCabe, a pediatrician and geneticist who is now chief medical officer for the national March of Dimes, according to the Post. “What the hospitals and people in the nursery are doing is looking at what is convenient for them.”
In one instance, a child in Colorado with MCAD deficiency, a disorder requiring a special diet, was born on a Friday and died four days later. His genetic screening information did not come back until a day after his death, as the state’s testing facility was not open over the weekend.
My Child Developed a Birth Injury Because of Hospital Negligence. What Can I Do?
If a baby suffers further injuries due to the negligence of a hospital not following regulations or adequately performing genetic testing, it should be held responsible for its negligence. As the Post pointed out, it is very possible that a delay in testing could result in brain damage. It can also result in a failure to detect disorders that could kill a child, especially if those disorders require special diets.
If your child experienced birth trauma, we can help. For more information, contact our birth injury attorneys. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our attorneys, call our firm at 1 (800) 460-0606.
[Did You Know: Metabolic disorders are genetic disorders in which a person’s body cannot turn food or liquid into energy.]
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Birth Injury Attorneys
Source: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_24542237/hospital-delays-put-babies-at-risk-disability-or
