In Texas, legal/ethical obligations for a cna re reporting pregnant woman using drugs as child abuse?

Question by yankeelady1952: In Texas, legal/ethical obligations for a cna re reporting pregnant woman using drugs as child abuse?
Will a cna in texas lose her certification if she does not report to the police, dads, or other apprpriate authorites, if she knows that a pregnant woman is abusing drugs? Is this considered to be child abuse, and therefore has to be reported because the cna is a certified medical person? how should the cna handle this to protect her license?

Best answer:

Answer by vance_pitman
You are considered trained medical personnel. And yes, you are required to report if you even SUSPECT that child abuse is occurring, and drug abuse by pregnant women would qualify. You CAN report anonymously, though in Texas, the court can order that your identity be released under certain circumstances.
You can ask an administrator, nurse, or doctor that you feel comfortable discussing this with if your facility has a specific procedure in place for reporting or if you should simply call the child abuse hotline. In most cases, if you give your name on the hotline, then your license is protected.

There’s a simple rundown of the relevant laws on the site, below

Add your own answer in the comments!

Volunteers of America Texas – Volunteers of America Texas is a faith based, non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals, families and communities reach their full spiritual, emotional and physical potential and wellbeing through a vast array of services that target the elderly, the intellectually disabled, those striving to overcome substance abuse, and those transitioning from correctional centers.