Relaxing Doesn't Make Babies

Mass. Laws

January 6, 2008 — 8:30 pm

Just putting this all here so I don’t lose it. From the Mass Gov website.

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Chapter 111: Section 110A. Tests of newborn children for treatable disorders or diseases

Section 110A. The physician attending a newborn child shall cause said child to be subjected to tests for phenylketonuria, cretinism and such other specifically treatable genetic or biochemical disorders or treatable infectious diseases which may be determined by testing as specified by the commissioner. The commissioner may convene an advisory committee on newborn screening to assist him in determining which tests are necessary.

The department shall make such rules pertaining to such tests as accepted medical practice shall indicate.

The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of such child object thereto on the grounds that such test conflicts with their religious tenets and practices.

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Chapter 111: Section 109A. Treatment of infants’ eyes at time of birth

Section 109A. The physician, or hospital medical officer registered under section nine of chapter one hundred and twelve, if any, personally attending the birth of a child shall treat his eyes within two hours after birth with a prophylactic remedy furnished or approved by the department. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

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Chapter 111: Section 67F. Newborn hearing screening tests

Section 67F. For the purposes of this section, the words “newborn infant” shall mean an infant under three months of age, and the words “hearing screening test” shall mean a test to detect hearing thresholds of 30 decibels or greater in either ear in the speech frequency range.

A hearing screening test shall be performed on all newborn infants in the commonwealth in the birthing hospital or birthing center, or in the hospital from which the newborn infant is discharged to home. Such test shall be performed before the newborn infant is discharged from the birthing center or hospital to the care of the parent or guardian, or as the department may by regulation provide; provided, however, that such test shall not be performed if the parents or guardian of the newborn infant object to the test based upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of the parent or guardian. The hospital or birthing center shall inform a parent or guardian of the newborn infant and the newborn infant’s primary care physician of such infant’s failure to pass the test, or if such infant was not successfully tested. Such notification shall occur prior to discharge whenever possible, and in any case no later than ten days following discharge. The hospital or birthing center so informing the parent and physician shall provide information regarding appropriate follow-up for a screening failure or a missed screening.

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Note that I cannot find ANY mention of regulation of giving newborns Vitamin K.

One response to “Mass. Laws”

  1. maria says:

    These are good to know since I live in MA too!