Parents advocate for child bereavement leave
BOSTON (WWLP) – Families of children who died from Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood gathered at the State House to advocate for parental bereavement leave.
Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is the fifth most common cause of death in children between one and two years old. In these cases, most often a seemingly healthy child goes to sleep and never wakes up.
Six Holyoke educators awarded for excellence in teaching
One in 100,000 children die from SUDC, but there is no way to predict or prevent it and it does not receive any federal research funding. Advocates are working to pass a law that would allow parents to take 10 days of bereavement leave following the death of a child, regardless of their workplace's policy.
Erin Bowen is a pediatrician who lost her son, Conor, when he was just 17 months old.
'Families need support from everyone, including the knowledge that their job is preserved and that they have the ability to have some time off,' said Bowen, who serves as the Vice President of the SUDC Foundation.
A Westford representative is leading the charge for this bill, and he told 22News that it is simply the right thing to do.
'It's a very difficult situation, obviously, dealing with the loss of a child,' said Representative James Arciero. 'As a father myself, it's heartbreaking and unimaginable,'
SUDC is not as common as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and lawmakers and advocates say a large part of their work centers on raising awareness about the issue and resources available to grieving families.
Affected parents said they are advocating for this goal now, during Sudden Death in Childhood Awareness Month, to ease other parents' pain should they lose a child.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Holyoke Medical Center recognized for equitable care efforts
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Holyoke Medical Center, located on Beech Street, has achieved a health care equity certification. Easthampton aims to enhance transparency with new public records management Holyoke Medical Center was awarded the Joint Commission's Health Care Equity Certification for excellence in its efforts to provide equitable care, treatment, and services. The center demonstrated that it has established processes to decrease health care disparities within its patient populations. The center underwent an onsite review on May 13th, and during the visit, The Joint Commission evaluated compliance with certification standards under the following terms: Leadership Collaboration Data collection Provision of care Performance improvement Another way Holyoke Medical Center is improving health equity is by collecting data from patients and offering additional screening tools, which gives them a better understanding of the patient population, as well as insights to improve patient care, enhance treatment protocols, and provide education to specific populations. 'Holyoke Medical Center is proud to be recognized for its efforts to provide equitable health care to everyone,' said Spiros Hatiras, President and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems. 'This certification is a testament to our team members who provide high quality, compassionate care to all of our patients, every day.' 'Providing equitable health care and reducing barriers to care is not new to Holyoke Medical Center,' added Sr. Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Avadhoot Gokhale. 'We have a specific Health Equity Strategic Plan to guide our organization in addressing the needs of our community. These initiatives have been ongoing for years and are identified in our Community Health Needs Assessments including free transportation to health care services, access to nutritious food, access to health insurance, workforce development, and a myriad of other services.' 'Health Care Equity Certification distinguishes those organizations that have made health care equity a strategic priority and those that collaborate with patients, families, caregivers and external organizations to help translate equitable health care into better health outcomes,' says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. 'We commend Holyoke Medical Center for using The Joint Commission's certification process to promote that all its patient populations receive access to equitable care, treatment and services.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Health New England to replace Humira coverage with lower-cost biosimilars
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Health New England announced Monday that it will shift coverage of the biologic drug Humira to more affordable FDA-approved biosimilars starting next month for members of its commercial health plans. Markey playing defense against GOP clean energy plans Effective July 1, the not-for-profit health insurer will cover Amjevita by Nuvaila and Hadlima instead of Humira, as part of a broader effort to manage rising health care costs while maintaining access to effective treatments. Humira is used to treat several chronic inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and plaque psoriasis. 'Biologic medications like Humira are complex treatments that carry significant cost. Its biosimilars provide a meaningful opportunity to enhance affordability for the health care ecosystem while members continue to get the full benefits of the medication,' said Gary Tereso, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy Services at Health New England. Biologic drugs are made from living organisms and are typically more expensive than other medications. Biosimilars are developed to be nearly identical in safety, potency, and efficacy to the original biologic, but at a significantly lower cost. The shift in coverage is intended to make treatment more accessible and financially sustainable for members and employer groups alike. Health New England is directly reaching out to members who are currently prescribed Humira, along with their health care providers and pharmacies, to assist with the transition. The company said it will continue monitoring the biosimilar marketplace to ensure members receive both high-quality care and cost-effective treatment options. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
American Medical Association rejects proposal for assisted suicide in Mass.
WALPOLE, Mass. (WWLP) – The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has declared that it does not support 'assisted death' in U.S. healthcare. The statement was shared at the association's most recent annual meeting. The AMA is the nation's largest organization representing physicians' unified voices. Committee not yet ready to act on assisted suicide proposal The association said that physician-assisted suicide goes against the physician's role as a healer and could pose serious societal risks. Assisted death has been a controversial topic among healthcare experts for decades. A report from the 2025 AMA Board of Trustees states, 'the profession of medicine should not support the legalization or practice of physician assisted suicide or see it as part of a physician's role.' The Massachusetts state legislature is currently reviewing Bill S.1486, also known as 'An Act relative to end of life options.' If this bill is passed, some physician-assisted suicide options would be legalized in the state. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
