BATON ROUGE, La. – Debate over a invoice that may have allowed medical doctors to check moms for unlawful medication throughout childbirth has introduced much-needed consideration to an issue that’s quietly a number one reason behind pregnancy-associated deaths, lawmakers and advocates say.
Sen. Steward Cathey Jr. R-Monroe
The Louisiana Being pregnant-Related Mortality Assessment reported unintended overdose was the main reason behind pregnancy-associated deaths in 2018. And in 2020, there have been 330 hospital admissions for Louisiana infants born with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, in response to the latest information from the Division of Well being.
The invoice’s proponents say Senate Invoice 60 would permit physicians to drug check moms so they might extra successfully present take care of the mother and the child. However some opponents argued that might intimidate girls from getting important medical care.
The invoice’s sponsor, Sen. Stewart Cathey Jr., R-Monroe, voluntarily postponed the invoice. However legislators mentioned they plan to launch a research of the issue.
‘We all know the inhabitants that is being harm.’
Learn extra on Cathey’s invoice from our information associate The Advocate.