I find this completely absurd, and IMO this nurse needs some sort of repurcussion for her actions. Calling CPS is a big deal, and should not be taken lightly. I was curious what other nurses opinions would be over this.
BABY HELD AT HOSPITAL, NURSE CALLS CPS WITHOUT CAUSE AFTER PEDIATRICIAN GIVES OK TO RELEASE BABY
Las Vegas, NV - A mother laboring under the care of Certified Professional Midwife April Kermani was transported to Summerlin Hospital Tuesday for stalled labor. Dr. Donald Roberts assumed care, and the mother gave birth lady partslly to a healthy baby girl about 7 hours after admission. On Wednesday the parents, Cecilia and Lincoln Rogers, were told they could not be discharged without a blood test for jaundice, a common and typically harmless condition among newborns. The test results came back with slightly elevated levels of bilirubin, indicating a mild case of jaundice.
The nursing staff told the parents they would have to place their daughter, Lilia Taylor Rogers, in isolation to undergo phototherapy and not allowed to nurse, but fed artificially with formula instead. They refused the treatment since newborn jaundice will usually resolve itself within two weeks. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that jaundiced newborns continue to breastfeed regularly, as frequent feedings help remove bilirubin in the body. They were told by the attending pediatrician they were cleared to take the baby home and follow up with their midwife and pediatrician over the next several days.
A pediatric nurse then reported these parents to social services and the police, for unknown reasons. Their baby was held against their will at Summerlin Hospital for well over 24 hours. "We are being treated like criminals," says the distraught mother. The CPS social worker calls the case "ridiculous." Lilia's bilirubin levels were back within the normal range very quickly.
Since mom & baby were under the care of a certified professional midwife, I'm assuming they were transferred to the hospital from home. Perhaps this is discrimination against the family for choosing home birth?
"A pediatric nurse then reported these parents to social services and the police, for unknown reasons."- there may be more to this story that isn't being reported here. I would bet that the nurse had a good reason to call.
repercussions for calling CPS is dumb. It would stop people calling, IMO. Every call needs to be investigated. If people think that they MIGHT get some kind of punishment if their suspicions are wrong- well that's a tragedy waiting to happen.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Since mom & baby were under the care of a certified professional midwife, I'm assuming they were transferred to the hospital from home. Perhaps this is discrimination against the family for choosing home birth?
I also think there is something not being reported. Fact is, nurses are mandatory reporters. It is our job to report - CPS's to investigate. There should never be any reprecussions for reporting, because we shouldn't ever have to wonder "will I get in trouble for reporting this?"
I also think there is something not being reported. Fact is, nurses are mandatory reporters. It is our job to report - CPS's to investigate. There should never be any reprecussions for reporting, because we shouldn't ever have to wonder "will I get in trouble for reporting this?"
Right? There's got to be more to the story than this. I just had our child abuse training and we report but it's not up to us whether the child goes home with the parents or not- as a nurse I have no authority to hold the child away from his/her parents.
I am thinking there may be a much bigger reason the nurse reported, but because of HIPAA she cannot tell her side of the story. The family gets to tell their side to the media but the nurse has to keep mum or risk her job and license. Let's cut her some slack and give her the benefit of the doubt.
As a peds nurse, we see babies with jaundice all the time. However it's not a medical emergency, and certainly would never warrant the actions that this nurse took.
I am surprised though that she went to such great lengths all on her own. Most nurses I've worked with in peds know that typically social work is the one to contact police/CPS if the physician does not. Perhaps she knew social work would tell her she didn't have a case?
This is uneducated--have you never heard of kernicterus? If levels are high enough without treatment, the baby could have severe brain damage. I think that's a medical emergency, don't you??
Anyone can make a call to CPS, by the way. In my experience, CPS usually doesn't take cases that our social work calls for even though some of the cases involved domestic violence, statutory rape, etc etc. I don't know how Las Vegas CPS works, but it definitely sounds like there is more to this story than what is being told.
Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP
4 Articles; 5,259 Posts
There is something more here, I'm willing to bet a lot of money.