The Dec. 8 editorial headlined “A new law is no cure in this case” seems to have missed several important points in regard to our proposals concerning the issue of “drive-through delivery.”
The editorial makes a case for the physician’s prerogative in determining what is best for mothers and their newborns. It does not seem to grasp that currently many physicians are strongly prodded by hospital administrators and insurance companies to move newborns and their mothers out as soon as possible, even at the risk of health to mother and child.
Many physicians are caught between the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics for a minimum 48-hour stay and the pressure of the administrators more concerned about profits. We are not convinced that attending physicians are supported in making recommendations about longer stays, nor are we convinced that the welfare of mothers and infants is being well served by the current practice of the drive-through delivery.
The editorial suggests that government has no business in developing policy around this issue. We beg to differ.
When hospitals claim tax-exempt status, and when they ask for the waiver of fees for municipal services, we believe that they enter into a covenant relationship with the civic community. The tax exemption and the waivers are gladly granted, assuming that the hospital will substantially serve the poor and those in need and will eliminate some burden to the government.
What we see happening, however, are the reduction or even elimination of services to the indigent, and little or no burden relief to the government. Meanwhile, the hospitals rake in huge profits and pay out fat salaries to administrators.
Unless government steps in, the profiteers will continue to hassle even the strongest physicians, and new mothers and their newborn infants will be put at risk. This is simply unacceptable.
