Schuster Institute fellow launches new book on 'The Business of Baby'

Talk will be held at Back Pages Books May 9

Jennifer Margulis, an award-winning author and senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis, will discuss her new book, “The Business of Baby” (April 2013, Scribner) at Back Pages Books Thursday.

Her book addresses whether American doctors and hospitals are choosing corporate interests over the health of mothers and babies. Using a combination of investigative reporting and personal narrative, Margulis shows that commonly accepted “best practices” in pregnancy and infant care, including routine and frequent ultrasound examinations, C-sections, and potty-training timelines, often are not based on evidence-based medical research but instead are unduly influenced by corporate profit margins and may be putting the health of infants and mothers at risk. Other disturbing findings come to light involving ultrasound scans and circumcision procedures, hospital reporting that should be mandatory, but is not, and more.


Her East Coast book launch will be held Back Pages Books at 289 Moody St., Waltham, on Thursday, May 9, at 7 p.m. She will discuss research she did and mothers and doctors she talked to who informed “The Business of Baby.” Books will be available for purchase and signing. Light refreshments will be served.