Proposed bill would allow drug testing of babies

The South Dakota Senate will debate a bill that, if approved, allows doctors to test newborns up to 28 days old for evidence of prenatal exposure to drugs.

If that test proves positive, the health care practitioner must report the results to the proper authorities.

Furthermore,

would absolve the health care people involved in administer the test from any civil or criminal liability related to the test.

The bill is an attempt to help combat the state’s growing meth epidemic; but it could be questioned in relation to the parents’ rights.

The bill earlier this week passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a six to one vote.