The Tests That Babies Need

1. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/the-tests-that-babies-need/

2. Category of Issue: Health/Infants

3. Level of Concern: National

4. Article Concerns: Babies being tested for diseases other than the required test--congenital heart disease and hearing loss.

5. The importance/affect it has on individuals/families:

Making tests for infants to detect congenital heart disease  a law so proper care and protocol can be administered/taken.

6. Personal View:

By adding congenital heart disease testing to be done on infants in addition to the other test (PKU, etc) to detect early diseases is beneficial and important for the baby and parent(s). The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act is already set in place to test for so many diseases which is great, but adding congenital heart disease testing is necessary. Many heart conditions go unnoticed until a baby/person encounters a problem and at times sometimes it is too late. By being able to test and map for these diseases is beneficial not only for the health and future of the infant, but the parents as well. Proper care, education,  and action would be taken to best treat the infant so they can have chance before it is too late or develops into a bigger issue. The US has one of the highest infant mortality rates and by adding this test to the list amongst others will definitely help to combat that infant mortality rate. this helps parents also better prepare for the any disabilities or health issues their infant may have. My mother had the PKU tests and others done because of some concern that my little brother may be born with down syndrome. It came back positive that the gene for down syndrome was present and there was a possibility that my little brother would be handicapped. He is now 17 years old born without down syndrome and one of the smartest persons i know. I know it was scary for my mother to be faced with the possibility and the reality that her son could have been born with a disability, but I think it prepared her for it and to be more accepting if that would have been the case.