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Policy Evaluation 1: Running Head

The document discusses the expansion of newborn screening policies and processes since the 1960s. It notes that new screening recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics were not based on clinical evidence but rather new technologies. This sets a dangerous precedent as screening should establish sound regimes to map disease outbreaks. There are also reservations about the current screening systems lacking transparency, evidence-base, and accounting for patient values. The document argues for developing an evidence-based, effective screening and testing regime through healthcare stakeholder and government agreement.

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Humphrey Akwabi
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35 views3 pages

Policy Evaluation 1: Running Head

The document discusses the expansion of newborn screening policies and processes since the 1960s. It notes that new screening recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics were not based on clinical evidence but rather new technologies. This sets a dangerous precedent as screening should establish sound regimes to map disease outbreaks. There are also reservations about the current screening systems lacking transparency, evidence-base, and accounting for patient values. The document argues for developing an evidence-based, effective screening and testing regime through healthcare stakeholder and government agreement.

Uploaded by

Humphrey Akwabi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Running head: POLICY EVALUATION 1

Policy Evaluation

(Name)

(Institution)

(Course Name and Number)

(Date Submitted)
POLICY EVALUATION 2

Moyer et al., (2008) in their article “Expanding New-born Screening” discuss the

processes, policies, and priorities that have been used to screen newborns for certain infections

since the 1960s. They note that in the 1960s, screening programs for new-borns concentrated on

testing every single serious and very rare disorder. They further argue that new technological

advancement in screening has enabled the screening to be expanded under the recommendations

of an expert group; the American College of Medical Genetics, with federal sponsorship.

Therefore, the expert group split this screening into twenty-nine core disorders, with another

group consisting secondary disorders numbering twenty-five in total. They add that this new

screening and the testing regime was supported and endorsed by a host of professional bodies,

advocacy groups, and even Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children

advisory committee. In my view and in according to arguments advanced by Moyer et al.,

(2008), ACMG process was not based on clinical evidence for the expansion of this screening

processes in new-borns but rather based on technological advancement. This sets a dangerous

precedent since the whole point of screening is not so as to try new technologies but establish

sound screening regimes that will assist the medical communities to map possible disease

outbreak. As Moyer et al., (2008) argue, there are serious reservations with the current screening

systems because they not meet the thresholds of being unbiased, transparent, evidence-based,

and do not account for baby-care values.

Whereas the process for screening as proposed meets the purposes congruent to the

infections being screens, it lacks in terms of follow-up procedures, parental education, diagnosis,

program evaluation and treatment management. A screening process cannot be regarded as

complete unless all these factors are addressed and amicable solutions proposed. In addition, the

testing itself is based on old testing procedures that miss out on most common new infections.
POLICY EVALUATION 3

Developing a testing kit to include screening even for the new infections is quite an expensive

bearing in mind the meager resources allocated to public health.

In order to rectify this controversy, evidence-based literature is required in order to come

with a new evidence-based screening and testing regime for new-born babies. Also, screening

procedures must show that they are efficacious both in controlled clinical conditions as well as in

real-life settings. For instance, ACMG testing for sickle cell disease in the field is not as effective

which has led to wrong drug administration. Therefore, healthcare stakeholders and governments

should agree on modalities to come up with a new screening and testing regime Moyer et al.,

(2008).

References

Moyer, V. A., Calonge, N., Teutsch, S. M., Botkin, J. R., & United States Preventive Services

Task Force. (2008). Expanding newborn screening: process, policy, and priorities.

Hastings Center Report, 38(3), 32-39.

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