Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jan 2003
Source: Charleston City Paper, The (SC)
Copyright: 2003 The Charleston City Paper
Contact:  http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2400
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

STATE STILL FIGHTING MUSC DRUG TEST

Ten years ago, MUSC tested pregnant women for cocaine without their 
knowledge or consent. The positives were turned over to police and some 
mothers were arrested for harming their children. And then the lawsuits 
began. So far the case has made two trips to the U.S. Supreme Court and the 
4th Circuit in Richmond, the nation's most conservative. The latest ruling 
by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals will be contested in the Supreme Court 
yet again. At stake is no longer the question of the hospital's 
unconstitutional policy - the Supreme Court established that - but damages. 
One estimate has the damages at $300,000. Pocket change compared to what 
the lawyers who have been representing the women will seek after working 
the case for 10 years. In a similar local case, lawyers fighting to get 
women admitted to The Citadel were paid $4.5 million
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom