Thread: Can we discuss the Eye Ointment again?

I talked to a very reliable person and was told I can refuse it if I want Hopefully the lack of knowledge of the law on the hospital staff's part won't give me any stress.

Quote: Originally Posted by LaffNowCryLater I talked to a very reliable person and was told I can refuse it if I want Hopefully the lack of knowledge of the law on the hospital staff's part won't give me any stress. If they give you any grief, just ask for someone from the legal dept to come visit you.

Quote: Originally Posted by LaffNowCryLater I'm a big policy nerd, I love picking through and reading policy manuals I'm gonna ask for a copy of the policy when I pre-register. Our law only says "prophylaxis". It used to name 2 antbx but that part of the code was wiped off in 2008. I would love to know why. In Tennessee the names of the drugs were removed because 1) silver nitrate is no longer used and 2) it's...

Quote: Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife It's for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The other STDs are viral so not affected by antibiotics. They give it to every baby because despite a negative test, you can never know for sure that a woman does not have it. The test could have been a false negative, or she may have picked up the bacteria since the test was performed. Unless her partner is by her side every minute, every woman who...

It is hospital policy and will happen, not just the nurses spouting off. Now, I was not worried about CPS showing up as I do know how to handle them, but at the moment of decision, DH thought it would be best to just give in rather than deal with it. We had already caused enough waves to last them a lifetime. DH figured it was one battle we should give to them. We did not fight the Vit K shot either as DS was a traumatic birth with much head...

Quote: Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty The hospitals here are required to call CPS if you refuse the eye ointment. So, that is something to consider. Can I ask how you know this? I'm trying to find out what I can and cannot refuse in my state and when they are required to call CPS, but not having any luck...

I'm not sure of the answers to your specfic questions but I just thought that I would mention that here in Australia routine administration of eye ointment for neonates is simply not done and hasn't been for at least 16 years.

Some states have religious or philosophical. Mine has religious. I am also allergic to emycin lethally so. I have handled it like this. I draft a document BOLD RED title advanced medical directives. Toss a paragraph in about any employee or contractor etc is prohibitted from providing care if they cannot follow the directives that I reserve the right to charge anyone with medical battery etc, but based on exp. expect that wont be an issue...

This is an interesting thread. I refused eye ointment at my last two hospital births and no one batted an eye.

As a former NICU nurse I thought I might pipe in (although I would like to start by saying I declined the ointment for my dd). Most hospitals have a policy that the nurses have to use a specific prophylaxis (in our case erythromycin oint). There are LOTS of cases of infected women who end up with these diseases and do not have a clue (usually b/c their hubbies keep re-infecting them). Some hospitals do have a policy to call CPS for refusals,...