Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
The Legal Limits Of Parental Autonomy: Do Parents Have The Right To Refuse Intramuscular Vitamin K For Their Newborn?, Shannon M. Isennock
The Legal Limits Of Parental Autonomy: Do Parents Have The Right To Refuse Intramuscular Vitamin K For Their Newborn?, Shannon M. Isennock
HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all newborns receive an intramuscular (IM) dose of vitamin K within 6 hours of delivery for the prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). There has been an increase in the number of parents who have refused the IM vitamin K dose for their infant based on its possible link to leukemia, preservatives that may lead to adverse reactions, and wanting to avoid pain for the infant. When newborns do not receive IM vitamin K, the most serious feared potential complication is intracranial hemorrhage with potential neurologic sequela including seizures, developmental delay, and …