Newborn Screening Essay

I believe that genetic screening of newborns should be done on all newborns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers newborn-screening tests one of the greatest public health achievements to reducing morbidity and mortality of newborns (CDC, 2011) . Although mandatory screening tests can vary by state, all states screen for at least 26 genetic and endocrine disorders that “saves at least 3,400 additional newborns each year”(CDC, 2011). The March of Dimes (MOD) recommends 29 tests but not all states have complied with their recommendations citing their rarity and cost as a factor (MOD, 2012). Currently, only two states, Wyoming and the District of Columbia require parental consent for newborn screening and “all states with the exception of Nebraska allow parents to opt out” (Ross, Saal, David, & Anderson, 2013). Common screening tests are sickle cell anemia, hypothyroidism and Phenylketonuria (PKU) all of which are treatable. Newborns are also routinely screened for hearing loss, which when detected early can allow for timely intervention. Author Erison quoted Bartha M. Knoppers, …show more content…
Khoury that “education and communication” are essential elements to shared decision-making regarding genetic screenings (Khoury, 2013).
Parents need to understand that genetic screenings are not diagnostic tests for diseases, but instead screenings that gives health information of possible abnormalities for which early treatment or intervention may prevent or reduce infant mortality or morbidity. As our assigned media presentation points out, newborn screenings help “expand our knowledge” of newborn diseases so that “future research” can impact the health of newborns (Genome, 2010). There should be collaboration by such groups as the MOD and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACGM) to set standards and implement screenings into the Affordable Care Act which will reduced the income and race disparity associated with