With Contributing Writer: Lisa McGhan
If you haven’t heard about HB399 which WAS a bill to mandate protocol for all newborns to be screened by pulse oximeter to test for critical congenital heart defects (CCHD), then read more about it here. There are many Richmond moms and families who are outraged that this bill was vetoed by Governor Bob McDonnell today, April 10.
After signing a controversial mandatory ultrasound bill into law recently, Governor McDonnell has many moms, dads, and others talking about today’s veto. The ultrasound bill signed by the governor requires women to have an ultrasound procedure before they can legally have an abortion. There was much debate and controversy over this bill, but it was signed into law against loud outcries from Richmond moms and residents around the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In stark contrast, the governor has now vetoed a bill which could potentially save the tiny lives of newborn babies with a non-invasive, simple, inexpensive preventive screening.
Many women see this veto of HB399 as a slap in the face so close on the heels of the ultrasound bill. Strong opinions are being voiced on the Richmondmom.com Facebook page and on other blogs and websites. It is difficult to understand why this bill was vetoed after being passed unanimously by the House and Senate. Legislators are even shaking their heads at this action by Virginia’s governor.
We talked with Richmond mom, Lisa McGhan, about this latest action by Governor McDonnell and this is what she had to say.
Lisa McGhan Speaks Out
Lisa McGhan, President of Children's Heart Foundation Virginia Chapter
“As the mother of a child diagnosed with 2 Congenital Heart Defects 2 months after she was born, this issue is very close to my heart. We went through level 2 ultrasounds that never detected my child’s congenital heart defects. She was born and never had a Pulse Ox screening. In her case, a Pulse Ox test would most likely not have registered anything odd.
However, a dear friend lost her daughter 5 days after bringing her home from the hospital. If her daughter had a Pulse Ox screening, she most likely would have received life saving surgery within days of her birth. New Jersey has signed the Pulse Ox Screening into law and since doing so, they have saved at least 2 children.
This Screening Saves Lives
This screening is important enough to be mandated by written law. If it is so important to see a baby on ultrasound prior to making a decision to keep their life going, then should it not be just as important to screen them for a potentially deadly disease once they are born? [Lisa is referencing the recent mandatory ultrasound bill].
As the president of Children’s Heart Foundation Virginia Chapter, I know that there are many parents in the Commonwealth of Virginia who are unaware of the prevalence of Congenital Heart Defects. Sadly, 1 in 100 babies born are diagnosed with CHD.
CHD Complexities
CHD has a wide range of complexities from the simple and self repaired holes in the heart, to holes that must be surgically patched, to single ventricle issues that could require a heart transplant, and so many more complex issues with there being over 40 identified Congenital Heart Defects. If parents are unaware of the existence and prevalence of CHD, it would be smart to have a mandatory screening so that a mother is not faced with her worst nightmare, watching her child die at home with no real explanation unless revealed by autopsy.
Virginia does a blood spot screening for 28 different disorders according to the Virginia Newborn Screening Plan on the Virginia Department of Health. The blood spot screening is a mildly invasive procedure where blood must be procured from the newborn. In the Pulse Ox screening, a newborn is simply fitted on the hand or foot with a pulse oximetery scensor for 1 minute to find the oxygen saturation level.
It is simple and non-invasive. Every patient in the hospital is screened with a pulse ox at some point during their stay, EXCEPT for newborns unless someone specifically asks for the newborn to be screened.
Parents Have Rights
Prior to being discharged from the hospital, parents can request (repeatedly if necessary) for their child to be screened with this testing procedure. Most parents don’t know to ask. We are working on getting information into the hands of all expecting parents to help them remember to ask for their child to be screened.”
Delegate Patrick Hope Responds to Veto
According to other comments and updates posted on Blue Virginia:
In his veto explanation, Governor McDonnell pointed to his “efforts to reform state government to reduce the number of boards, commissions and work groups that continue in perpetuity through legislative enactments.” He also stated “the Virginia Department of Health has an existing work group planning the implementation of appropriate early intervention services to infants identified as having critical congenital cyanotic heart disease.”
Delegate Patrick A. Hope (D-Arlington) said, “I am extremely saddened that Governor McDonnell vetoed legislation seeking to detect and diagnose CCHD in newborns. Contrary to his explanation, the Virginia Department of Health does not already have an existing workgroup on CCHD of which I’ve ever been made aware. The Department, with my encouragement, applied for a federal HRSA grant seeking funding to fully implement a CCHD program; however, the Governor’s veto seriously jeopardizes that application and the likelihood Virginia will be able to implement this program.”
Delegate Hope continued, “Governor McDonnell seems to want it both ways. Saying on the one hand he vetoed the bill because he wants to reduce the number of work groups in government and then in the next breath extol the fact that a CCHD work group already exists.” Hope concluded, “I hope members of the General Assembly will see that a Section 1 bill does not create a work group ‘in perpetuity’ and they will stand with Virginia families to override the Governor’s veto.”
What do you think about HB399 and Governor McDonnell’s veto? Leave us a message below and let us know and we’ll let Governor McDonnell know too.
Contact your legislators before next week and encourage them to overturn this veto. If you’re not sure who to contact, click here to find your legislators for both Delegates and Senators. Then click on his or her name and you’ll be directed to more information, including a link that allows you to send a message to both legislators at once, and an email address for each one.
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