Drug testing Labor patients

[Jemma]

Just wondering what protocols are used in determining which patients are drug tested in your labor rooms. Do you inform the patient that the test is going to be done? What is the usual followup with the newborns if the mom has a positive drug screen?

[klone, MSN, RN]

but that doesnt make it legal...

The only times I've seen a drug screen done on a newborn is when the mother tested positive also. In those situations, I imagine CPS is able to get involved and intervene, and the mother has lost her right to make those kinds of decisions for her newborn, especially since it's a non-invasive test that does not pose the risk of harm to the infant in any way.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

The only times I've seen a drug screen done on a newborn is when the mother tested positive also. In those situations, I imagine CPS is able to get involved and intervene, and the mother has lost her right to make those kinds of decisions for her newborn, especially since it's a non-invasive test that does not pose the risk of harm to the infant in any way.

but did the mother consent? If the testing was done without informing her of the consequences, it was NOT informed consent.

[klone, MSN, RN]

but did the mother consent? If the testing was done without informing her of the consequences, it was NOT informed consent.

And what I'm saying as that informed consent of the mother was not required in those cases.

Hell, this was AZ, which everyone knows is infamous for trampling people's civil rights anyway.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

And what I'm saying as that informed consent of the mother was not required in those cases.

Hell, this was AZ, which everyone knows is infamous for trampling people's civil rights anyway.

this may be the actual answer then.......but unless there is a law in place, there could still be trouble over the practice.....especially since it is not a uniform across the board thing.....

[newmidwifehopeful]

Where I have worked we have always drug tested the infant if there is a recent maternal history or suspiscion of drug use.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Where I have worked we have always drug tested the infant if there is a recent maternal history or suspiscion of drug use.

i am not saying it isnt done, i just want to know what makes it legal.

[suezan59]

We test the baby's urine if the mom has a history of drug use, late prenatal care (none until after 5 months), or sporadic prenatal care (beware moms who have just moved from out of state and didn't get a new OB doc right away!!). If the baby meets certain size criteria (small for gestational age or head circumference under 25th percentile), we test meconium. We don't need mom's consent for the baby's tests - it's state-mandated. I'm sure that somewhere in their admission paperwork (that they don't read because they are in labor while they're signing it and being bombarded with paperwork in addition to trying to cope with contractions), there is some clause that gives us permission to do it.