Parents Should Not Get Breast Milk Online, Pediatricians Warn
The risk of contamination is too high, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
KPCC:
US Pediatrics Group Says Don't Get Breast Milk Online
Health care providers should discourage families from procuring milk online regardless of whether it is sold or donated, according to the Academy, "because of the increased risks of bacterial or viral contamination of nonpasteurized milk and the possibility of exposure to medications, drugs, or other substances," such as pesticides or mercury. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also recommends against feeding babies breast milk acquired directly from individuals or via the internet, citing similar concerns about possible contamination. (Plevin, 12/19)
In other public health news —
KPCC:
Fearful Of Parents, Many Teens Still Avoid Sex-Related Health Care
Under California law, teenagers can get reproductive care and treatment for sexual issues confidentially, without parental consent or notification. The Center for Health Statistics studied 2013-2015 data compiled by the National Survey of Family Growth. It found that nearly 18 percent of youths between 15 and 17 won't go to a provider at all because of confidentiality concerns. (Browne, 12/19)
WBUR:
On A 'Eugenics Registry,' A Record Of California's Thousands Of Sterilizations
There's a grim chapter in American history that involves forced sterilization. And for much of this past century, California had one of the most active sterilization programs in the country. A state law from 1909 authorized the surgery for people judged to have "mental disease, which may have been inherited." That law remained on the books until 1979. (12/18)