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.
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From the article:
Cecilia is referring to the police officer who was sent to her room just hours after giving birth, all because she and her husband told the nurse they didn't want to keep Lilia overnight in the NICU to be treated for jaundice
There is so much more to this story.... babies with mild jaundice not whisked to NICU in my area, only those with high levels that require close monitoring.
Reminder to debate ideas and not personalize to an individual....posts permitted that are constructive and polite.
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On 3/25/2011 at 12:51 PM, klone said:
I agree on both counts. If what was in the article is truly what took place, it's outrageous. I wonder if there is more to the story.
Sort of like the woman who has had her child taken away from her for 5 years "because she wouldn't consent to a C/S"
On 3/25/2011 at 2:58 PM, linearthinker said:
That nurse is an idiot. How embarrassing to all of us. Afriend of mine just had a baby and she left the hospital with a cps case over jaundice ! One her baby didn’t even have it , second the baby was in good health there were no threats of any kind beautiful baby but she left with a cps case she made the doctor visit and the baby was healthy no Issues ... they had the the wrong weight wrong everything shouldn’t the hospital be held account
On 3/25/2011 at 2:53 PM, Heidi the nurse said:
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 my friend left with a healthy baby and they claimed he had jaundice they picked the wrong baby one two no Health problems of any sort but she left the hospital with a actual cps case the hospital should be held accountable
Specializes in I am a student with a open mind willing to learn.
On 3/25/2011 at 12:29 PM, Simply Complicated said:
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.
My friend just had a baby nothing wrong with Him they said he had jaundice they called cps on her she left the hospital with her baby and a cps case they had the wrong weight of him , he was perfectly healthy the hospital or someone should be held accountable
Specializes in I am a student with a open mind willing to learn.
On 3/25/2011 at 6:04 PM, Altra said:Response from whom?
Something bad is happening in hospitals my friend just had her son perfectly healthy someone said he had jaundice no proof what’s so ever she left with a cps case the doctor said baby is fine ....someone needs to be held accountable .....not to stir things up further , I read somewhere that since COVID happened I don’t know if they said thousands or millions of children disappeared....
Something bad is happening in hospitals my friend just had her son perfectly healthy someone said he had jaundice no proof what’s so ever she left with a cps case the doctor said baby is fine ....someone needs to be held accountable .....not to stir things up further , I read somewhere that since COVID happened I don’t know if they said thousands or millions of children disappeared....
Hi. We can't comment on your friend's situation except that she follow up as instructed with the baby's primary care provider and she can speak with the hospital's representative if she has concerns about her baby's care.
If you want to discuss an unrelated topic you could post a new topic and cite the source of your concern.
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?
In our state, everyone is a mandated reporter. If you suspect abuse, you are expected to make the call, not consult with others or hand the concern over to others to make the call.
I do wonder what the rest of the story was. I mean, a nurse can't just unilaterally make CPS hold a baby for 24 hours. Maybe a drug history or unsafe parenting. Plus hospital admin would be involved and would need to sign off on it. I have placed several babies on an administrative hold that were medically clear for discharge but not able to socially clear.
A
NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN
10 Articles; 19,196 Posts
From the article:
There is so much more to this story.... babies with mild jaundice not whisked to NICU in my area, only those with high levels that require close monitoring.
Reminder to debate ideas and not personalize to an individual....posts permitted that are constructive and polite.