Mom wants mandatory pulse oximetry tests in hospital for babies
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Las Vegas mom is pushing for a bill that would make pulse oximetry tests mandatory before babies leave the hospital Video by ktnv.com
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(KTNV) -- A small, quick test could possibly save the lives of many babies born in Nevada and a Nevada mom is leading the charge to make the test mandatory in hospitals.
Maya Downs looks like a typical girl, tea parties and all. But last may, Maya had surgery to help her heart beat stronger.
Her mom believes a simple test at birth could have helped diagnose her daughter so now she is pushing Nevada legislators to make the pulse oximetry test mandatory before every baby leaves the hospital.
Senate Bill 92 is backed by the American Heart Association, the March of Dimes, and plenty of science.
Still, it is running into opposition from critics who believe there are better tests and that the pulse ox can return false positives.
The test is currently mandatory in seven states and 22 other states are considering legislation to make it mandatory right now.
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