Massachusetts Hospitals to Stop Reporting Abuse When Babies Test Positive for Drugs

A major hospital network in Massachusetts has updated its policies and will no longer report suspected child abuse or neglect based solely on a newborn baby testing positive for drugs. In an update issued on April 2, Massachusetts General Brigham said the change is being rolled out to address disparities, particularly among women of color. It follows an analysis of policies that “may unwittingly perpetuate structural racism,” hospital system officials said, adding that substance abuse disorder is a condition with “significant racial and ethnic inequities,” more so when it comes to pregnancy. According to the update, black pregnant women are more likely to be drug tested and reported to welfare agencies than white pregnant women....