I don't know about all jurisdictions, but the law in Washington state about
PKU testing used to be simply to ensure that hospitals offered the test
(among others) to all babies born there, as newborn screening.  There was no
law compelling parents to allow the child to be tested.  The same was true
of eye prophylaxis; the hospital had to offer it to everyone, but parents
were free to decline.  

Securing a baby for travel in a motor vehicle, on the other hand, was
something parents were required by law to do, and I don't think the hospital
was involved in that one.  There is a crucial difference here; it is not up
to the parents' conscience whether to try to prevent lethal or disabling
injury from traffic accidents.

I think most countries with modern medical services have now stopped
administering antibiotics to the eyes of newborns as a routine measure,
relying instead on observation of the child during the first few days for
signs of conjunctivitis, then culturing and treating accordingly.  Here, the
first treatment while waiting for culture results is applying freshly
expressed breastmilk to the eyes.  Often the symptoms are gone before the
culture is back.  It's been 20 years at least since eye prophylaxis was
stopped.

I would not advocate discontinuing eye prophylaxis in a setting like the US
without a safe follow-up system in place for every baby.  Those who decline
this measure are likely to be amply equipped to watch their babies and take
adequate steps to treat if needed.

What if hospitals were mandated by law to ensure that all mothers were
encouraged to give breastmilk/breastfeed?  

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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