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.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
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??.
But...the ped discharged them. So clearly, it wasn't high enough that s/he was concerned enough to do more than tell them to follow up in a couple days.
IDK. Still seems like a bone head move to me. I think home birth and midwife attended births are great, but I bet previous posters are correct and this was some sort of retaliation for daring to try to birth without the gods and goddesses of obstetrics at your side, lol.
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.
But if you feel the child is in eminent danger, you call the cops, who do have the authority to hold the child. Which is why I wonder about the article. We had an incident happen at one of the schools I work at and the story that was in the paper was incredibly different from what really happened. You know what they say about believing 1/2 of what you see and none of what you read...
But...the ped discharged them. So clearly, it wasn't high enough that s/he was concerned enough to do more than tell them to follow up in a couple days.
But as a mandatory reporter, if you have concerns, it doesn't matter what the MD thinks- you are still legally responsible to file a report.
At this point though- the main source for this article doesn't strike me as very reliable. It quotes the news release, but doesn't give a source for it. So in this specific case, I think it's very likely we don't know the full story.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
But as a mandatory reporter, if you have concerns, it doesn't matter what the MD thinks- you are still legally responsible to file a report. .
But a mandated reporter for...what? You think the baby's jaundice is too high? So you're going to call CPS and get a court hold on the baby? How is jaundice under the purview of CPS?
That's why I suspect there's more to the story than that. I can't imagine CPS getting involved over JAUNDICE when the parents want to take their baby home after the pediatrician wrote discharge orders.
But a mandated reporter for...what? You think the baby's jaundice is too high? So you're going to call CPS and get a court hold on the baby? How is jaundice under the purview of CPS?
For a situation where the doctor doesn't think there is an issue but you do. This discussion is just academic to me at this point, and not about this specific case due to the unverifiability of the article.
That's why I suspect there's more to the story than that. I can't imagine CPS getting involved over JAUNDICE when the parents want to take their baby home after the pediatrician wrote discharge orders.
Me neither. And if this lone nurse was the only one pushing for CPS to be called...why would the baby be held for 24 hours? Where's the contact info on the press release quoted on the placenta blog? The author that quotes the article owns a company that processes placenta in to pill form. (http://blog.placentabenefits.info/) And who starts her article with an ax to grind ("Once again, hospital staff decides that it knows what is better for a child than the parents. A nurse on staff at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas reported the parents of a newborn to social services and had the baby held at the hospital without parental consent, simply because the parents opted for an alternative treatment to the one suggested by the staff. Or perhaps it was simply because these parents had made the choice to have their baby born at home under the care of a midwife?").
Me neither. And if this lone nurse was the only one pushing for CPS to be called...why would the baby be held for 24 hours? Where's the contact info on the press release quoted on the placenta blog? The author that quotes the article owns a company that processes placenta in to pill form. (http://blog.placentabenefits.info/) And who starts her article with an ax to grind ("Once again, hospital staff decides that it knows what is better for a child than the parents. A nurse on staff at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas reported the parents of a newborn to social services and had the baby held at the hospital without parental consent, simply because the parents opted for an alternative treatment to the one suggested by the staff. Or perhaps it was simply because these parents had made the choice to have their baby born at home under the care of a midwife?").
The blog post linked above quotes a Press Release.....but it looks suspect to me, as the Press Release doesn't state where it's from. Generally a Press Release will have contact information at the bottom....this one only has citation information for the jaundice treatment information.
The blog post linked above quotes a Press Release.....but it looks suspect to me, as the Press Release doesn't state where it's from. Generally a Press Release will have contact information at the bottom....this one only has citation information for the jaundice treatment information.
A "press release" is a statement to the media that can come from any source, in any form, and can contain any information that the issuer wishes to convey.
It is not journalism, and is not evidence or proof that something occurred.
A "press release" is a statement to the media that can come from any source, in any form, and can contain any information that the issuer wishes to convey.
It is not journalism, and is not evidence or proof that something occurred.
Thanks for the unnecessary definition. I didn't say it was a news source. I've worked for plenty of organizations that put out Press Releases, and I've never worked for a news organization.
What I stated is that generally, Press Releases from reputable sources include contact information....the one I saw had none. Without knowing the sources of the information, I don't find it credible.
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
But...the ped discharged them. So clearly, it wasn't high enough that s/he was concerned enough to do more than tell them to follow up in a couple days.