I am a pediatrician at a large hospital in Pennsylvania. Recently, I took care of a young child who needed to be sedated for an urgent, unexpected medical procedure the next day. But, his mother had to work the next morning. She told me if she missed work, she would be fired. Like 66% of Pennsylvanians, she was not eligible for paid leave. I saw worry in her eyes as she realized she would miss her child’s sedation and procedure. For my patients who need specialized care for weeks, months, or years, the challenges for parents without paid leave are even greater.
This is why I was heartened to see your article on Allegheny County’s proposal requiring 18 weeks of paid parental leave to all employees (“Allegheny County makes a push for paid parental leave,” May 13, TribLive). Research demonstrates the value of paid leave — improved infant and child mortality rates, fewer preterm births and improved caregiver well-being. Paid leave can even be good for employers, who benefit from improved retention.
The research is clear. But research aside, you only need to spend one day as a pediatrician to understand that families deserve paid family leave. I hope policymakers across the state recognize this.
Dr. Emma Gerstenzang
Philadelphia