One state lawmaker says permanently adding an additional test to newborn screenings could save lives and save the state money. Assemblyman Richard Pan is a pediatrician. The Democrats wants to require testing for Severe Combined Immuno-deficiency. It’s commonly known as SCID or "Bubble Boy disease."
Anne Marie Mullen’s son Shane died of the illness when he was only a few months old and doctors didn’t know what was wrong. But she had another child, Kyle, who was screened for SCID at birth and treated right away with a bone marrow transplant.
"Now Kyle is this healthy, happy 3 1/2-year-old boy, so It’s our dream that no other babies is going to die of this disease when it’s obvious it can be cured," Mullen said.
When a child has SCID, his or her immune system can’t fight off infections.
Since August, California newborns have been screened for SCID as part of a pilot program. Assemblyman Pan wants to make it permanent.
