I have read with great interest the thoughtful commentary by Dr. Fred H. Harvie on the Special Report of the Committee on Fetus and Newborn relating to Standards for Planning and Design of Newborn Nurseries (Pediatrics, 25:1083, 1960). Inasmuch as this report was issued during my term as Chairman of the Committee, I have requested permission of Dr. William Silverman, the present Chairman, to submit a reply together with his.
Firstly, I believe that it is important to stress that the special meeting which resulted in the issuance of the report was concerned primarily with problems in the design and construction of newborn nurseries and not with the basic techniques which are to be followed in the actual operation of the nursery.