Politics & Government

Law Mandates Newborns Be Screened for Congenial Heart Disease

Written by Dina Sciortino

When Congers resident Patti Stone’s daughter Samantha was born in 2002, she seemed healthy. However, six weeks later the infant went into cardiac arrest. 

“Samantha had not had a pulse ox test and we learned she had an undiagnosed congenital heart defect,” said Stone, a spokeswoman for American Heart Association, in a press release. “Her death is a heartbreaking, senseless loss. I’m glad that Governor Cuomo is signing a law so other babies might live the long and healthy lives we thought Samantha would.”

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Congenial heart disease (CHD) is characterized as problems with the heart’s structure or function at birth. About 280 infants leave the hospital each year without being diagnosed with CHD, the number one cause of death in babies with birth defects.

Some forms of CHD require immediate medical intervention in order to avoid death or disability. While many New York hospitals already offer a screening that helps identify whether an infant has heart defects, hospitals weren’t mandated to administer a pulse oximetry test to newborns until recently.

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"Babies are dying every day from undetected heart defects, but we have the knowledge and power to prevent CHD from taking their lives so soon,” said March of Dimes Mission Mom Krystal Peters, in a press release. “Knowing that New York State has mandated a law requiring the ‘pulse ox’ test to be added to newborn screening means saving lives and spreading awareness. It means hope.”           

Now all New York hospitals and birthing centers will perform the test, which measures the level of oxygen in the blood. Low level can indicate CHD, which nearly one in 100 children are born with. The test is estimated to cost between $5 and $10 per child. 

According to Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the White Plains based March of Dimes, New York State has been a trailblazer in screening newborns since March of Dimes grantee Dr. Robert Guthrie first developed a phenylketonuria metabolic disorder screening for newborns in Buffalo 50 years ago.

“New York should be commended for continuing to maintain a robust newborn screening panel and testing infants for over 40 inherited conditions, including all 31 conditions listed on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recommended Uniform Screening Panel,” said Howse. “Passage of this law is a fitting tribute to the March of Dimes 75th anniversary.” 

The “Pulse Ox Bill” was supported by Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D-New City) and sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D-Forestburgh) and Sen. Bill Larkin (R-Cornwall-on-Hudson). 


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