Re. Forced holds on OB patients

[Guest guest]

So, I did find the article interesting. I am not sure where you live but I know

that in New York and in most of the country there are no detox/rehabs for women

who are pregnant and have Medicaid. So, they really don't have detox/rehab as

an option much of the time if they present to a hospital as a drug abuser.

Sending women to jail is not the answer.

[Guest guest]

,

At the hospital where I used to work (in Kentucky), I had several

patients who were told by their obstetrician that they had 2 choices

in riding out the remainder of their pregnancy. They could chose

hospitalization until delivery or jail until delivery. Every pregnant

woman given this option chose hospitialization over jail. The local

jail here would NOT give an addict his/her methadone while

incarcerated even with a Dr's order, so the ones that stayed probably

had this in the back (or front) of their mind when they made the

decision.

The patients were placed on methadone until delivery rather than the

street drugs they were using. Visitors were carefully screened so

drugs would not be brought in. Our OB unit is a locked unit. Only

access is through one door and each person must be buzzed in and stop

and the desk to register. There was random drug testing to show if

any illegal drugs were given to the patient. If she tested positive,

she was sent to jail. All patients had Ky Medicaid.

This is my experience with this. In all cases, they stayed until they

delivered. Week after week. Yes, it was tiring for the nursing staff

as well as the patient.

Was this a violation of the patients civil rights? probably

borderline.

But they voluntarily stayed to avoid jail. Would the patient have

gone to jail? how long would she have stayed? who knows.

just my personal experience.....

[Guest guest]

addendum:

" There was random drug testing to show if any illegal drugs were

given to the patient. If she tested positive FOR ANY DRUGS BESIDES

THE METHADONE she was sent to jail " since we knew that would be a +

on one aspect of her 7-9 drug -drug test.