title: Positive toxicology screening in newborns: ethical issues in the decision to legally intervene.
abstract: Perinatal substance abuse causes a host of problems including physical and psychological impairments to a developing fetus. However, responding to the needs of pregnant women who use drugs and their children poses an additional challenge in this already deplorable situation. Foster care, adoption, criminalization, and reunification are all possibilities as intervention options in this dilemma. Each of these options prompts additional problems for mother, child, and provider. What was once uncommon or uncontroversial for public health nursing is now bringing a new wave of discussions in the health system and nurses need to be cognizant of the ramifications of delivering care to perinatal substance abusing mothers and their families. Assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation--the nursing process--emerges as an invaluable tool.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, College of Nursing and Health Science, Fairfax, VA, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D040841:Resource Allocation; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States