Sen. McLachlan Applauds Infant Heart Screening Measure’s Passage; Sherman Resident Has Pushed for Measure

State Sen. Michael McLachlan (R-Danbury) testifies before a legislative committee in Hartford during a March public hearing on his proposal to require screening for heart defects to be conducted on newborns in Connecticut.

Looking on (at right) is Marie Hatcher of Sherman, holding her son Matthew. The bill on April 18 received the unanimous support of the State Senate and now moves on the the House of Representatives.

State Sen. Michael McLachlan today applauded the advance of his proposal to require screening for heart defects to be conducted on newborns in Connecticut.

The April 18 unanimous “yes” vote in the State Senate moves the bill to the House for approval.

Sen. McLachlan and his constituent, Marie Hatcher of Sherman, testified at the State Capitol last month on behalf of the bill.

Hatcher’s son Matthew was born with a congenital heart defect. She’s started a nonprofit group — Matthew’s Heart of Hope Inc. (www.mathhewsheartsofhope.org) — to advance the cause of heart defect screening.

“There is no better advocate to have by my side on this issue than Marie Hatcher,” Sen. McLachlan said. “Many legislators are unaware that this simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective screening is not required. Learning about congenital heart defects and screening for those defects can and will save lives. Early detection leads to early intervention to correct the defect so children can lead a normal life.”

McLachlan said the method of screening, which is called Pulse Oximetry Screening, is a way to check for serious congenital heart defects before the newborn leaves the hospital. This $10 test evaluates oxygenation levels in the newborn’s blood through an external sensing device. A pulse oximetry reading below a specified level signals the need for more testing to determine whether a congenital heart defect is the cause.

Every year, 35,000 babies are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. While the defect takes many forms, the common denominator is diminished oxygenation of the infant’s vital organs.

Sen. McLachlan noted that The American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Foundation, and the American Academy of Pediatrics endorse Pulse Oximetry Screening of newborns.

“This unanimous senate vote is a reflection of a mother’s advocacy on behalf of her son and on behalf of newborns in Connecticut,” McLachlan said. “Marie Hatcher’s persistence is an excellent example of how one individual can make a positive impact on state policies.”

Sen. McLachlan (www.senatormclachlan.com) represents Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield and Sherman.