Some additional thoughts:
Amy wrote:
> If an older child is being malnourished by, let's say, diluting a can of
> soup too much...do HCP give free samples of cans of soup to the family?
> Or, do they do something else?
> Why would the treatment of a malnourished 8 month old be any different
> than the malnourishment of a 4 yr old?
Actually, yes, our office has occasionally helped out our indigent patients
with a sack of groceries, not as health care providers, but as an act of
love and charity. Is this criminal? If giving an 8 month old formula is
criminal, and we're considering malnourished infants the same as
malnourished children, then our office giving out groceries, samples of
medications for people who can't afford them, etc. is also criminal, not a
commendable thing.
Gonneke wrote:
> And what happens if she runs out of free samples? Do you keep supplying
> her with free formula?
No, WIC is supposed to supply her with free formula. And we try to get her
into WIC/social services as soon as possible, but again, unless they can see
her today (and often can't), or she doesn't qualify for WIC (e.g. illegal
alien), what should be done before then?
Heather wrote:
> I am not sure what community HCPs would do here if they thought a
> baby needed formula instantly because the baby is malnourished - prob
> admit to hospital, and the hospital would give formula.
A hospital admission in my community is about $1000/day. We do not have
universal health care like the UK. Most failure to thrive babies don't need
an inpatient admission, and insurance won't approve them anyway. Is it
really worth $1000/day so the HCP doesn't have to give formula to the child?
In theory, I agree with what I hear y'all saying, i.e. "HCPs shouldn't give
out formula because WIC can/should do that," but practically (at least in my
neck of the woods), WIC vouchers get lost or stolen or pawned for
cigarettes, or your appointment isn't for 2 weeks, or it's Friday night and
WIC isn't open till Monday. Etc.
I agree with the spirit of the proposed law. I just want it to be
practicably enforceable.
In the trenches,
Suzanne
Suzanne Berman, M.D., FAAP
[log in to unmask]
Plateau Pediatrics
49 Cleveland Street, Suite 210
Crossville, Tennessee 38555
(931) 707 8700
(931) 456 0802 fax
(931) 484 9511 after hours
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