The article regarding "Untreated jaundice results in damage to infant's
brains" is most likely related to a Sentinel Event Alert released by JCAHO,
Issue 18, April 2000.  JCAHO entitled the alert "Kernicterus Threatens
Healthy Newborns."  They defined 7 "risk factors," identified root causes,
discussed available risk reduction strategies and made recommendations for
prevention.  One of the risk factors was related to breastfeeding:
"Inadequate nutrition/hydration through suboptimal breastfeeding."

One root cause identified was:  "Failure to provide ongoing lactation
support to ensure adequacy of intake for breastfed newborns."  They also
cited failure to provide appropriate information to parents regarding
jaundice, poor feeding, lactation difficulties, etc.  as a root cause of
hyperbilirubinemia.

The document can be viewed at www.jcaho.org/edu_pub/sealert/sea18.html


Linda J. Tandy, MSN, RN, CCM, IBCLC
Clinical Nurse Specialist
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