GRP public service entry #2
1
FACT SHEET www.mlive.com 75¢ THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2010 BY KYLA KING THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS T ightly swaddled in her blanket, Charlotte Rose Palacio remained fast asleep as nurse Tena Chulski did something that happens to every baby born in Michigan — took a sample of her blood. Only 24 hours old, baby Charlotte never flinched as Chulski twisted her tiny foot to the side, swiped it with an alcohol swab, then pricked and squeezed until a dark drop pooled on the surface. The Saint Mary’s Health nurse then used a special piece of paper and doted five red circles to be sent to Lansing for genetic testing. But starting Oct. 1, a parent’s say over how that blood gets stored will change. That’s when staff at Michigan’s 89 birthing hospitals ask parents for written permission to store blood spots for research after their newborn has been tested for life-threatening conditions. If they decline, the dried spots will be destroyed. The move marks a significant shift for Michigan health officials after decades of such tests. Previously, parents had to be informed enough to know the blood was indefinitely stored, then independently ask that their child not be included. The change also allows grown chil- dren to later ask that their blood spots be destroyed. “We’re trying to be more transpar- ent,” said Janet Olszewski, director of the Michigan Department of Commu- nity Health. “You’ll be asked upfront. We want people to understand that it is stored.” Scientists have come to regard the stored blood spots as a gold mine for research, but there are indications the move toward transparency could reduce that treasure trove. In early tests of the new program, including at two hospitals in West Michigan, parents of one in five ba- bies have declined storage of their newborns’ blood. The issue has been controversial. Lawsuits in Texas and Minnesota have been filed by parents questioning who owns the genetic material. “Parents not only have the right to know before the state stores their SEE PRIVACY, A2 State takes steps to help parents guard baby privacy PRESS PHOTO/KATY BATDORFF Lifelong imprint? Registered Nurse Tena Chulski draws blood from Charlotte Rose Palacios’ foot on Tuesday for newborn screening. Until now, the samples have been stored indefinitely. WHO OWNS YOUR GENES? But taking newborns’ DNA traces off record could hamper beneficial research Flipping the question Newborns’ parents soon will be asked, rather than just informed, about storage of blood from screening tests. What: Staff at Michigan’s 89 birthing hospitals will begin asking parents to give the state written permission to store the newborns’ blood spots left from testing. Otherwise, the spots will be destroyed. When: Starting Oct. 1 The change: Previously parents had only to be informed that the blood was stored indefinitely and independently ask that their child not be included. Why is the blood stored? For medical and scientific research. What about privacy? The samples are stripped of identifying information and assigned a number. Michigan law forbids access to the blood by law enforcement, employers or insurance companies. SOURCE: Michigan Department of Community Health COURTESY PHOTO Anonymous: Blood spot samples are identified with a number rather than names. CRUISIN’ Metro Cruise draws thousands of street rods, vintage vehicles, lowriders and more to 28th Street. The Weekend, page 4 Jesse Jackson pushes his point, A3 July housing market plunges, A10 Sell your stuff with statewide listings: mlive.com/classifieds INDEX Ada to Zeeland ............A3 Advice/Puzzles .......... A12 Business ..................... A10 Classified Ads ..............B5 Comics........................ A13 Daily Briefing............. A14 Deaths ......................... A8 Lottery.......................... A2 Opinions..................... A15 Region..........................A3 Sports ........................... B1 TV/Weather ............... B10 ©2010, The Grand Rapids Press BY SHANDRA MARTINEZ THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS GRAND RAPIDS — The four big- gest food distributors in West Michi- gan say the salmonella-tainted eggs that have arrived in Michigan did not come through them. The question remains: who brought them here? And, more importantly, where are they? It might be easier to pinpoint where they are not. Those who receive their eggs through Gordon Food Service, Meijer, Spartan Stores and Sysco don’t need to worry, say those companies’ representatives. “None of the eggs recalls affect any shell eggs sold by Gordon Food Ser- vice,” the Grand Rapids restaurant food supplier said in a statement. “We do not source or purchase from the farms having the recalls.” After announcing tainted eggs produced at two Iowa farms under investigation have made their way to Michigan, the state’s Department of Agriculture has declined to ex- plain how or where the eggs were distributed. “This is really a federal investiga- tion,” said spokeswoman Jennifer Hol- ton, referring questions to the Food and Drug Administration. An agency representative in Detroit didn’t im- mediately return a call left by The Press. She said investigators are continu- ing to trace where the contaminated eggs were distributed. Although the Iowa egg producers did not directly sell recalled eggs to customers in SEE EGGS, A2 BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS A Sparta mom who has been wait- ing for a double lung transplant has been taken off the transplant list, her father says, after her doctors decided she is no longer strong enough to sur- vive the surgery. Kerry Hutchins, 33, was featured in a recent Press story about her wait for a transplant and how Michigan lags far behind other states in its number of registered organ donors. Hutchins, who has cystic fibrosis, has been on the transplant list for three years. She has been hospitalized at the University of Michigan Health Systems since April, when a heli- copter brought her there from Spec- trum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, her lungs chronically clogged with mucus brought on by her disease. “She has struggled for the last cou- ple weeks,” her dad, George Roby, said Wednesday. “Her medical team decided she’s no longer strong enough to take a transplant. “I’m in denial,” said Roby, of Cas- cade Township, his voice catching. “Now they’re going to make her as comfortable as possible and try to let her die with dignity.” Roby said the family is working to get Hutchins’ brother, Lee, here from Montana. “She wants to see him while she’s still alive,” Roby said, “instead of him just seeing her at the funeral.” The family is struggling with the news, Roby said, but taking comfort that by Hutchins sharing her story, and putting a face to the issue of or- gan donation, more people may have signed up to be organ donors. “I’m sad,” Roby said, “but if she passes, at least she’s left a legacy.” Michigan ranks 42nd nationwide in the percentage of registered drivers who have officially expressed their wish to be organ, eye and tissue do- nors. Many residents are not aware it isn’t enough anymore just to sign the back of their driver’s license or state ID. You have to join the Michigan Or- gan Donor Registry by going online or visiting a secretary of state office. “I told her I’m sorry there won’t be a transplant,” Roby said of his daugh- ter. “And she said, ‘Oh, there’ll be a transplant.’” Roby had to pause. “But she means the other way — she’ll be giving her organs.” Hutchins is a registered organ donor. “She’s an angel,” her dad said. E-mail: [email protected] BY NATE REENS THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS WALKER — The questions sur- rounding the hunt for alleged killer Jack Jacqmain remain: How did the 52-year-old who walked away after allegedly killing a man in a motel parking lot find his way 450 miles to Missouri? And how is it possible that the schizophrenic and bipolar parolee walked out of a mental health care facility days before the slaying, and no one notified state corrections officials? Police are working to figure out how Jacqmain traveled to the St. Louis suburb of Florissant — where he was arrested Wednesday sleeping on a bench behind a 7-Eleven — but sus- pect his knowledge of the trucking industry allowed him to traverse the route from West Michigan. The second question is more vex- ing, especially to the victim’s family. But Walker’s Director of Public Safety Catherine Garcia-Lindstrom said she isn’t interested in laying blame. “As opposed to pointing fingers about what happened, unfortunately, at times, there are people who make their own personal choice (to vio- late parole and commit a crime),” she said. Even if authorities had been immediately notified, it may not have stopped Jacqmain, a convicted bank robber, from committing a crime such as the stabbing of 31-year-old Mark Moore, of which Jacq- main is accused, out- side the Motel 6 along Three Mile Road NW on Aug. 18, police say. Investigators said they still would have had to find Jacqmain, and that would have been more onerous because there wouldn’t have been a task force and multistate alert for the suspect, who was difficult to find even with those resources. Moore’s sister, Stacia Barnes, ex- pressed gratitude for the efforts of investigators but wondered how Jacq- main paid for the 13 days he was run- ning from police since he left custody Aug. 12. She also doesn’t understand the breakdown of communication that led to him being free. “Where does he get the money? Did people help him? Why did it take so long for people to realize he’s gone?” Barnes questioned. “I’m just so happy he’s off the streets. And I just pray he didn’t hurt anyone else along the way. There’s no telling what he could do to other SEE QUESTIONS, A2 Now come the questions NO. 1: HOW DID FUGITIVE GET TO MISSOURI? Jack Jacqmain PRESS FILE PHOTO Mommy time: Kerry Hutchins, 33, of Sparta, a patient at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, cuddles with her 4-year-old son, Aiden, during a July visit. ‘They’re going to try to make her comfortable’ Sparta woman awaiting double lung transplant ruled too weak to survive surgery CONNECT To register as an organ donor, visit giftoflifemichigan.org CONNECT For a list of recalled eggs, go to bit.ly/eggtips Food detectives track tainted Michigan eggs Major distributors say they didn’t bring recalled eggs into the state AND SO IT BEGINS East Grand Rapids faces Jenison in one of today’s season-opening high school football games. B1
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The Grand Rapids Press public service, part 2, mpa
Transcript of GRP public service entry #2
FACT SHEET
www.mlive.com 75¢THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2010
BY KYLA KING
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
T ightly swaddled in her blanket, Charlotte Rose Palacio remained
fast asleep as nurse Tena Chulski did something that happens to every baby born in Michigan — took a sample of her blood.
Only 24 hours old, baby Charlotte never fl inched as Chulski twisted her tiny foot to the side, swiped it with an alcohol swab, then pricked and squeezed until a dark drop pooled on the surface.
The Saint Mary’s Health nurse then used a special piece of paper and doted fi ve red circles to be sent to Lansing for genetic testing.
But starting Oct. 1, a parent’s say over how that blood gets stored will
change.That’s when staff at Michigan’s
89 birthing hospitals ask parents for written permission to store blood spots for research after their newborn has been tested for life-threatening conditions.
If they decline, the dried spots will be destroyed.
The move marks a signifi cant shift for Michigan health officials after decades of such tests. Previously, parents had to be informed enough to know the blood was indefi nitely stored, then independently ask that their child not be included.
The change also allows grown chil-dren to later ask that their blood spots be destroyed.
“We’re trying to be more transpar-ent,” said Janet Olszewski, director of the Michigan Department of Commu-nity Health. “You’ll be asked upfront. We want people to understand that it is stored.”
Scientists have come to regard the stored blood spots as a gold mine for research, but there are indications the move toward transparency could reduce that treasure trove.
In early tests of the new program, including at two hospitals in West Michigan, parents of one in fi ve ba-bies have declined storage of their newborns’ blood.
The issue has been controversial. Lawsuits in Texas and Minnesota have been fi led by parents questioning who owns the genetic material.
“Parents not only have the right to know before the state stores their
SEE PRIVACY, A2
State takes stepsto help parents
guard baby privacy
PRESS PHOTO/KATY BATDORFF
Lifelong imprint? Registered Nurse Tena Chulski draws blood from Charlotte Rose Palacios’ foot on Tuesday for newborn screening. Until now, the samples have been stored indefinitely.
WHO OWNS YOUR GENES?
But taking newborns’ DNA traces off record could hamper beneficial research Flipping the question
Newborns’ parents soon will be asked, rather than just informed, about storage of blood from screening tests.
What: Staff at Michigan’s 89 birthing hospitals will begin asking parents to give the state written permission to store the newborns’ blood spots left from testing. Otherwise, the spots will be destroyed.
When: Starting Oct. 1
The change: Previously parents had only to be informed that the blood was stored indefinitely and independently ask that their child not be included.
Why is the blood stored? For medical and scientific research.
What about privacy? The samples are stripped of identifying information and assigned a number. Michigan law forbids access to the blood by law enforcement, employers or insurance companies.
SOURCE: Michigan Department of
Community Health
COURTESY PHOTO
Anonymous: Blood spot samples are identified with a number rather than names.
CRUISIN’Metro Cruise draws thousands of street
rods, vintage vehicles, lowriders and more to
28th Street.The Weekend, page 4
Jesse Jackson pushes his point, A3July housing market plunges, A10
Sell your stuff with statewide listings:mlive.com/classifieds
INDEXAda to Zeeland ............A3Advice/Puzzles .......... A12Business .....................A10Classified Ads ..............B5
Comics ........................ A13Daily Briefing.............A14Deaths ......................... A8Lottery..........................A2
Opinions ..................... A15Region ..........................A3Sports ........................... B1TV/Weather ...............B10©2010, The Grand Rapids Press
BY SHANDRA MARTINEZ
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
GRAND RAPIDS — The four big-gest food distributors in West Michi-gan say the salmonella-tainted eggs that have arrived in Michigan did not come through them.
The question remains: who brought them here? And, more importantly, where are they?
It might be easier to pinpoint where they are not. Those who receive their eggs through Gordon Food Service, Meijer, Spartan Stores and Sysco don’t need to worry, say those companies’ representatives.
“None of the eggs recalls affect any shell eggs sold by Gordon Food Ser-vice,” the Grand Rapids restaurant food supplier said in a statement. “We do not source or purchase from the farms having the recalls.”
After announcing tainted eggs produced at two Iowa farms under investigation have made their way to Michigan, the state’s Department of Agriculture has declined to ex-plain how or where the eggs were distributed.
“This is really a federal investiga-tion,” said spokeswoman Jennifer Hol-ton, referring questions to the Food and Drug Administration. An agency representative in Detroit didn’t im-mediately return a call left by The Press.
She said investigators are continu-ing to trace where the contaminated eggs were distributed. Although the Iowa egg producers did not directly sell recalled eggs to customers in
SEE EGGS, A2
BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
A Sparta mom who has been wait-ing for a double lung transplant has been taken off the transplant list, her father says, after her doctors decided she is no longer strong enough to sur-vive the surgery.
Kerry Hutchins, 33, was featured in a recent Press story about her wait for a transplant and how Michigan lags far behind other states in its number of registered organ donors.
Hutchins, who has cystic fi brosis, has been on the transplant list for three years. She has been hospitalized at the University of Michigan Health Systems since April, when a heli-copter brought her there from Spec-trum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, her lungs chronically clogged with mucus brought on by her disease.
“She has struggled for the last cou-ple weeks,” her dad, George Roby, said Wednesday. “Her medical team decided she’s no longer strong enough to take a transplant.
“I’m in denial,” said Roby, of Cas-cade Township, his voice catching. “Now they’re going to make her as comfortable as possible and try to let her die with dignity.”
Roby said the family is working to get Hutchins’ brother, Lee, here from Montana.
“She wants to see him while she’s still alive,” Roby said, “instead of him just seeing her at the funeral.”
The family is struggling with the news, Roby said, but taking comfort that by Hutchins sharing her story, and putting a face to the issue of or-gan donation, more people may have signed up to be organ donors.
“I’m sad,” Roby said, “but if she passes, at least she’s left a legacy.”
Michigan ranks 42nd nationwide in the percentage of registered drivers who have offi cially expressed their wish to be organ, eye and tissue do-nors. Many residents are not aware it isn’t enough anymore just to sign the back of their driver’s license or state ID. You have to join the Michigan Or-gan Donor Registry by going online or visiting a secretary of state offi ce.
“I told her I’m sorry there won’t be a transplant,” Roby said of his daugh-ter. “And she said, ‘Oh, there’ll be a transplant.’” Roby had to pause. “But she means the other way — she’ll be giving her organs.”
Hutchins is a registered organ donor.
“She’s an angel,” her dad said.
E-mail: [email protected]
BY NATE REENS
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
WALKER — The questions sur-rounding the hunt for alleged killer Jack Jacqmain remain: How did the 52-year-old who walked away after allegedly killing a man in a motel parking lot fi nd his way 450 miles to Missouri?
And how is it possible that the schizophrenic and bipolar parolee walked out of a mental health care facility days before the slaying, and no one notified state corrections offi cials?
Police are working to figure out how Jacqmain traveled to the St. Louis suburb of Florissant — where he was arrested Wednesday sleeping on a bench behind a 7-Eleven — but sus-pect his knowledge of the trucking industry allowed him to traverse the route from West Michigan.
The second question is more vex-ing, especially to the victim’s family. But Walker’s Director of Public Safety Catherine Garcia-Lindstrom said she isn’t interested in laying blame.
“As opposed to pointing fingers about what happened, unfortunately, at times, there are people who make their own personal choice (to vio-late parole and commit a crime),” she said.
Even if authorities had been
immediately notified, it may not have stopped Jacqmain, a convicted bank robber, from committing a crime
such as the stabbing of 31-year-old Mark Moore, of which Jacq-main is accused, out-side the Motel 6 along Three Mile Road NW on Aug. 18, police say.
Investigators said they still would have had to fi nd Jacqmain, and that would have been more onerous
because there wouldn’t have been a task force and multistate alert for the suspect, who was diffi cult to fi nd even with those resources.
Moore’s sister, Stacia Barnes, ex-pressed gratitude for the efforts of investigators but wondered how Jacq-main paid for the 13 days he was run-ning from police since he left custody Aug. 12. She also doesn’t understand the breakdown of communication that led to him being free.
“Where does he get the money? Did people help him? Why did it take so long for people to realize he’s gone?” Barnes questioned.
“I’m just so happy he’s off the streets. And I just pray he didn’t hurt anyone else along the way. There’s no telling what he could do to other
SEE QUESTIONS, A2
Now come the questions
NO. 1: HOW DID FUGITIVE GET TO MISSOURI?
Jack Jacqmain
PRESS FILE PHOTO
Mommy time: Kerry Hutchins, 33, of Sparta, a patient at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, cuddles with her 4-year-old son, Aiden, during a July visit.
‘They’re going to try to make her comfortable’
Sparta woman awaiting double lung transplant ruled too weak to survive surgery
CONNECTTo register as an organ donor, �visit giftoflifemichigan.org
CONNECTFor a list of recalled eggs, go to�
bit.ly/eggtips
Food detectives track tainted Michigan eggsMajor distributors say
they didn’t bring recalled eggs into the state
AND SO IT BEGINSEast Grand Rapids faces Jenison in one of today’s season-opening high school football games. B1
