Imagine that your state legislature is considering a law that would require parental consent for newborn screening

Instructions

Imagine that your state legislature is considering a law that would require parental consent for newborn screening. Parental consent is currently not required, although newborn testing is not conducted over parental objection. (Currently only a few states actually require consent.) The health department has been asked to take a position on the pending legislation.

Using the readings for the week, the South University online library, and the Internet, write a 3–5-page paper.

Cover the following:

What position should the health department take? Use the following six questions to help craft your response (Bernheim, Nieburg, & Bonnie, 2005).

  • identification of risks and harms of concern
  • public health goals
  • stakeholders and their moral claims
  • scope of legal authority
  • relevant historical content
  • professional codes of ethics provide guidance