New Jersey Hospital Stirs Controversy With Newborn Sexual Orientation Question

New parents in New Jersey are finding themselves grappling with more than sleepless nights; they’re also being handed a questionnaire asking about their newborn's sexual orientation and gender identity. Yes, you read that correctly.

The form, distributed by Inspira Health, sparked a social media uproar after parents shared its unusual queries. State Senator Holly Schepisi (R-District 39) wasn’t buying it at first. She described her initial reaction as "skeptical" due to the "outrageous" and "nonsensical" nature of the form. However, her staff confirmed the document was indeed real, leaving Schepisi flabbergasted.

Inspira Health clarified that the forms are meant to comply with a New Jersey law requiring health networks to gather information on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The law, implemented in June 2022, mandates this data collection in a "culturally competent and sensitive manner." Talk about subjective interpretations.

Senator Schepisi, who is also a mom of two, is now leading the charge to shield minors from these invasive questions. Her proposed legislation aims to create exemptions in the state’s medical records law for minors, arguing the current guidance on data collection was too broad, covering all demographics—including infants.

Inspira Health defended its compliance by stating that parents can decline to answer these questions. According to their statement, recent updates allow health systems to request sexual orientation and gender identity information only from adults, in a "clinically appropriate" way. Still, the idea that this data was ever requested for newborns has left many scratching their heads.

Healthcare workers aren’t thrilled either. Assemblyman John Azzariti, a medical doctor, labeled the form "absurd" and is backing Schepisi’s legislation. The senator also echoed concerns about hospital staff being caught in the crossfire of frustrated parents reacting to the baffling questionnaire.

Even some Democratic legislators were stunned to learn about these forms. Schepisi revealed many of her colleagues were just as flabbergasted, with responses ranging from disbelief to confusion. "We're doing what?" seems to have been the collective refrain.

The controversy has also put Governor Phil Murphy under scrutiny. Schepisi suggested that the initiative to collect this data stemmed directly from Murphy’s office, noting the law's rapid journey from introduction to enactment—a mere week and a half. That’s lightning speed for legislation.

The New Jersey Department of Health attempted to clarify its stance, stating that any collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data should be "clinically appropriate" and "culturally competent," especially for populations where such data might not be relevant, like newborns. They also encouraged hospitals to develop internal policies to guide employees in handling these sensitive situations.

This whole saga leaves us pondering: When did filling out forms at the hospital become more exhausting than labor itself?