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 Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
So what we have is a statement to the media from a couple in which they name their physician and midwife, and allegedly quote an unnamed county social worker, and comment on the alleged actions of one or more unnamed nurses.
I'm sorry -- I can appreciate that perhaps the OP is attempting to have a discussion of the ethics of a hypothetical situation ... but I just can't attribute any credibility to this.
When I originally posted this, I thought it was from a news story. Not just a press release. The person who told me about it is friends with the parents. People were commenting the nurse should be fired, etc. I was asked if I would get other nurses opinions on this, as they knew I was a nurse. Which is what I did. The general consensus being there has to be more to the story than is being said.
Also, someone questioned how the child was able to be held without a doctors order. This is the response
"I guess when it's reported, there has to be an investigation by a social worker automatically. So the baby was held at the hospital until the social worker gave the OK. CPS will do at least one more in-home visit to check on them, but the parents are just glad to have their baby. It is crazy that a single nurse could cause all the trouble, over nothing. Just that the parents went against her opinion. Scary!"
So I'm sure there is more to the story, but something is obviously happening.
Also, someone questioned how the child was able to be held without a doctors order. This is the response
"I guess when it's reported, there has to be an investigation by a social worker automatically. So the baby was held at the hospital until the social worker gave the OK. CPS will do at least one more in-home visit to check on them, but the parents are just glad to have their baby. It is crazy that a single nurse could cause all the trouble, over nothing. Just that the parents went against her opinion. Scary!"
So I'm sure there is more to the story, but something is obviously happening.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
Wouldn't be the first time people got all up in arms about something that turned out to be untrue.
Not saying this isn't true, but I am saying a rally doesn't prove anything. :)
I just meant that it's not totally made up. How much truth there is to the story, or how much info is missing, is anyone's guess. Just saying there was actually something that spurred it.
I agree with other posters that the reported situation doesn't add up. Something is missing.
That said, I'm a social worker turned pre-nursing student so can help with the CPS issues. I've never worked for CPS but have had to make calls, have worked with families involved with CPS and have some knowledge about how CPS works (at least in Kansas and Missouri). I have heard of calls that had no basis to them and went nowhere. I've also heard of cases (and I bet some of you readers have too) where no one made a call despite horrendous things happening to a child(ren) for a prolonged period, even though people had suspicions.
In answer to some of the questions in this thread:
#1: Most (if not all) states have laws that protect mandated reporters from retaliation because otherwise (as another poster pointed out) people would hesitate to make the call.
#2: Mandated reporters can be criminally charged for not reporting suspected A/N. They can also lose their licenses to practice (if they are licensed).
#3: The only way a child can be removed from his/her parents' care (e.g., kept in the hospital against the parents' will) is either if the child is placed in police protective custody or with a court order from a judge. CPS workers don't have the authority themselves. Does a physician or hospital? I've never heard of it and I've worked as a social worker in a children's hospital.
#4: CPS calls are supposed to be anonymous but there is still no guarantee that you as a caller will be able to remain so. There is always the possibility that the person you call about will figure out or learn that it was you who made the call. It happens more than you think.
I am also a parent of 3 and have had to deal with the other end of this once (and that was enough!) When my son was 9, he was hit in the jaw with a softball accidentally while he and his dad were practicing throwing the ball in the backyard. My son's jaw hurt a great deal so we went to the ER to get checked out (the right thing to do). The nurse and doctor said they needed to talk to my son, myself, and his dad separately to ask each of us what had happened. I knew exactly what was going on. I knew they were doing their jobs and it was a good thing because kids need to be protected. I also knew no one had done anything wrong in my family's case. No call was made in our case--I guess nurse and doctor were satisfied with our reports (which they should have been) and medical exam didn't reveal anything of concern. I felt vulnerable nonetheless. It's just unpleasant when it happens. Period.
There is so much speculation about this incident, and we have so little reliable information that reasonable, rational discussion is nearly impossible. We can, at best, wrestle with hypothetical possibilities and still end up as clear as mud.
The above post is a good note on which to close this thread.
If anyone finds an actual news source relating to this situation, please, let staff know and we will consider reopening the thread.
Simply Complicated
1,100 Posts
When I originally posted this, I thought it was from a news story. Not just a press release. The person who told me about it is friends with the parents. People were commenting the nurse should be fired, etc. I was asked if I would get other nurses opinions on this, as they knew I was a nurse. Which is what I did. The general consensus being there has to be more to the story than is being said.