I do not have the newsletter set to put on a website yet, but I recently
received a newsletter from St. Paul the malpractice insurance company. They
have a long article on the topic of preventing baby abductions and baby
switching in the hospital setting.  Most of the article focuses on high tech
baby bracelets (those that set off central alarms if they are removed or go
past a department doorway, or those that disable an elevator if the bracelet
enters an elevator).

Nowhere do they talk about babies rooming in 24 hours a day with their
mothers as a preventative tool.  Granted if the mother is sleeping or in the
bathroom or in the shower the baby can still be abducted by a malevolent
person.

I have the entire article as an efax attachment that I can forward to any
interested person.  I think this is a letter writing issue, as they certainly
should mention rooming in as a measure that helps prevent abductions and baby
switches.

The mailing address for the newsletter for comments is:

Jane Rodriquez, Editor
Hospital Update
The St. Paul, Mail Code 503P
385 Washington St.
Saint Paul, Minnesota
55102-1396

If you send me private email to
the following email address:  [log in to unmask]
(DO NOT SEND TO [log in to unmask])

I can forward the document to you as an efax attachment.
You will have to download an efax reader (free) to read the attachment.

There really is no need to read the article, as it is notable only for what
it does not say about rooming in.  They actually make several good points
about managing this risk.  They even mention "Code Pink"drills for the
hospital.  These are simulated baby abduction drills, just like code red
drills for fire, code black drills for tornados, code purple drills for bomb
threats, the list goes on and on.

Jon Ahrendsen MD Family Practice
Clarion, Iowa

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