A thought that just came to me today was this:  If this 19
year old was on
welfare, who paid for the breast-reduction surgery?  I
realize this can be a valid surgery in some cases.  But I
also wonder if at the time she had the surgery did they
tell her this would affect her ability to breastfeed? (if
not she may have valid grounds for a malpractice suit, as
this lack of knowledge as contributed to her guilty
verdict)

Also was her breast reduction surgery paid for with public
funds?  In which case perhaps there should be some
additional reauthorization requirements before this
procedure is done. "e.g. Under 21 and never been pregnant?
Public funding is not an option for you now."  If it was
not paid for with public funds, then where does a welfare
mother come up with the cash to pay for a breast reduction?

I don't mean to be uncaring in this terrible tragedy.
Obviously this mother was not served well in multiple ways
by her medical community, but these are some other factors
that I think need to be addressed when looking
comprehensively at the entire situation.
Jon
P.S. I see my newborns at 1 wk, 2 wks, 4 wks, 6 wks
(socially when the mom comes in for her post partum check,
as they often bring the baby along), and 8 wks.  And I see
them regardless of wether they have a card yet or not.
As Dave Marinaccio says in All I Really Need to Know I
Learned from Watching Star Trek , "People are more
important than rules."  I might suggest in this case his
quote be modified to "People (including babies) are more
important than rules."


Jon Ahrendsen MD ABFP
& Becky
parents of Andrea, Elizabeth and Karl
Clarion, Iowa

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