Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Mom sues after failed drug test over poppy seeds

Associated Press



An initial-time mother who states she unsuccessful a medication test during labor because she ate poppy seed products has prosecuted a Pittsburgh hospital, saying authorities defamed her and violated her physician-patient discretion by discussing the outcomes having a child welfare agency.



Rachael Devore, 31, who gave birth at Magee-Women's Hospital from the College of Pittsburgh Clinic on June 24, suggests in her own suit the hospital staff examined her urine while she was at labor after which surrended the "positive" drug test to county caseworkers.



"I simply shipped and it is said to be this beautiful, wonderful, happy some time and I am being charged with something that's completely absurd," Devore told The Connected Press. "To become charged with physically and intentionally doing harm to your son or daughter is an extremely tough accusation to swallow."



A UPMC speaker rejected to discuss the suit filed Tuesday.



Opiates like heroin are manufactured from poppies, and that's why the seed products can lead to false positives on drug tests. But Devore stated she did not realize what motivated the unsuccessful drug test until days later — when she bought exactly the same type of bread she'd eaten ate yesterday she entered labor and saw poppy seed products when she sliced in it.



This past year, another Pennsylvania lady settled a suit with Jameson Hospital in New Castle for $143,500, following a county child welfare worker grabbed the girl newborn this year next mother also examined positive for drugs after consuming a poppy seed bagel.



Devore's attorney, Margaret Coleman, stated there have been no medical good reasons to test Devore for drugs, saying she would be a "model" patient. So when the urine sample returned being an "unconfirmed positive" the outcomes even incorporated the disclaimer "These results were designed just for medical reasons. Unconfirmed screening results mustn't be utilized for non-medical reasons (e.g. employment testing, legal testing)," the suit mentioned.



Except that is what UPMC did, Devore claims, once they known her situation to Allegheny County's Office of kids, Youth and Families.



Within hrs of her daughter's birth, a nurse required a urine sample in the child who had been supervised for withdrawal signs and symptoms. The following day, a healthcare facility social worker interrupted Devore while breastfeeding "and required details about her alleged drug abuse.Inch



Devore told the social worker she did not use drugs and, although their daughter's tests were also negative, a healthcare facility social worker still known the situation to CYF as Devore and also the baby appeared to be released June 26.



A CYF caseworker visited the Devores later on that day, and scheduled a This summer 5 inspection of the home. A CYF investigator known the situation to some substance abuse counselor and needed Devore to sign a "safety plan" acknowledging she'd surrender her parental privileges to her husband if she did drugs again.



CYF employees looked over the house frequently within the coming days, and also the drug counselor told Devore she planned to recommend future random drug tests, despite Devore passed another urine test. Eventually, the CYF investigator elected to not require drug tests, although the agency has yet to transmit Devore instructions verifying her situation continues to be closed. The company does not comment openly on child welfare cases.



"The Devores are extremely, very fortunate that CYF did not place their baby away and UPMC recognizes that risk is available every time they make one of these simple reviews," Coleman stated.


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