Posted on 06/05/2005 2:29:56 PM PDT by wagglebee
BRITAINS top medical ethics expert has urged doctors to let the most premature babies die, with treatment offered only in exceptional cases.
Baroness Warnock believes Britain should follow Holland in setting an age limit below which babies would not routinely be resuscitated.
She says this would prevent doctors competing for the triumph of keeping babies alive at increasingly young ages even though they may not survive in the long term or may be left severely disabled.
Warnocks comments were backed in part by Britains most senior paediatrician, who said the setting of a lower limit should be considered.
In Holland, doctors do not routinely administer intensive care to babies born before 25 weeks of pregnancy. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics, a medical think tank, is considering proposing similar guidelines in Britain. It is consulting doctors, nurses and parents about setting a 24-week limit.
Warnock, who helped frame laws on embryo research and fertility treatment, supports setting an age limit, with exceptions for babies who show they have a strong chance of living to become healthy children.
Some doctors and nurses get competitive about the triumph of keeping these tiny, premature, babies alive, she said. It would be better to set a minimum age than to have no form of scrutiny or regulation. Below a certain age of gestation no baby should be kept going without very thorough scrutiny of what the prognosis for that baby is.
Although most doctors are opposed to an age limit, Sir Alan Craft, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said it was a legitimate option to consider. One possible course of action would be not to intervene with any 23-week-old babies unless they breathe completely and spontaneously themselves, he said.
Craft, speaking in a personal capacity, argues that, as it is not possible to tell which babies born at 23 weeks or less will survive, doctors are forced to consider resuscitating all of them, although the majority have no chance of living.
Once doctors have started assisting these babies, he says, parents find it difficult to agree to treatment being withdrawn, even though it is of no help.
The Nuffield council is investigating the costs of raising the disabled children that premature babies often become as well as the expense of intensive care in neonatal units.
A study of the most premature babies showed most went on to suffer disabilities. The EPICure study of babies born at 25 weeks or less, led by researchers at Nottingham University, found that, by the age of six, only 20% of surviving children had no disabilities; 22% had severe disabilities, including cerebral palsy; while 34% had milder problems such as a squint.
In addition, it found that only 11% of all babies born at 23 weeks survived. Since the study began, however, care has improved and the figure is believed to be closer to 20%.
Bliss, the premature baby charity, says about 50 babies born at 23 weeks survive every year and it would be wrong to deny them the chance to live.
Bonnie Green, head of external relations, said: We would be very unhappy. It is expensive to keep adults who may not pull through in intensive care but, in their case, we do not say lets use the money for something else.
Yes it is disgusting. My aunt delivered a premature baby, named Amy, many years ago. They left her by an open window to die. This type of behavior has been going on for years.
I just can't wait to read the replies to this thread : (
It sure is disgusting! Are they kidding? A squint? Meanwhile in a room nearby they are killing babies at 25-40 weeks at the the request of the parent. Refusing to save preemies. Wow. Hospitals, at least in Europe, are a dangerous place for babies! As a 32 wk preemie 'with a squint', I'm sure glad they decided I was worth it. So does my friend, mother of 2 28 wk babies and also my former college roomie, survived at 6.5 mos, no small feat a 35+ yrs ago. And my neighbor's daughter, now 8, born at 26 wks, her twin didn't survive, but her parents are sure happy to have a healthy, happy, nearsighted daughter!
Prof Singer from a New Jersey university doesn't think so.
He advocates the killing of babies too.
It's sick and getting sicker with each passing day.
GD Right, my friend. My Oldest Daughter was born at 27 weeks, a mere 1 pound 12 ounces, this proposal would not harm her from being resuciated, but I have seen the miracle of life in action with her. I am convinced that all babies no matter what their (Fetal) age should be revived and rehabilitated. I saw an episode of ER where they said they couldn't do anything for a 24 week old and let it die, That's BS. Doctor's should be willing to help any human life, no matter what, and devote ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES TO PRESERVING IT.
For those of us who were called nuts for saying abortion cheapened the value of a baby we are vindicated, but I would rather we were not right on this one...
A study of the most premature babies showed most went on to suffer disabilities. The EPICure study of babies born at 25 weeks or less, led by researchers at Nottingham University, found that, by the age of six, only 20% of surviving children had no disabilities; 22% had severe disabilities, including cerebral palsy; while 34% had milder problems such as a squint.
So to get this straight 54% (More than half) of kids born before 24 weeks (and survive) babies have little to know disability (if they are counting squint, they might as well put dandruff in there)...
In addition, it found that only 11% of all babies born at 23 weeks survived. Since the study began, however, care has improved and the figure is believed to be closer to 20%.
I think if any medical procedure only has an 11% survival rate we should outlaw it right? how stupid is that?
1) With survivability going lower and lower many people who are on the fence when it comes to abortion will start to see limits as morally required. Libs must be thinking why not just set it so those limits cant go below the second trimester through a law that has 'nothing to do with abortion'
2) Abortions where the baby survives may be happening more often than we hear about! this law would protect abortion doctors from ever having to even think about recitation no matter what abortion law becomes...
I just had my daughter on mothers day and I know how you feel, the doctors who stand aside and let a baby die might as well be giving it a lethal injection..
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BRITAINS top medical ethics expert has urged doctors to let the most premature babies die, with treatment offered only in exceptional cases.
Baroness Warnock believes Britain should follow Holland in setting an age limit below which babies would not routinely be resuscitated.
And what makes her an expert? Her extraordinary enthusiasm for death and the efficient use of tax dollars? Calling her an expert on medical ethics is like calling Gary Coleman the next NBA MVP.
Put aside for a moment the chances that babies will be handicaped, etc (and see post 11 for astory about that)...are you in favor of the State deciding who lives and dies, and when they die? I'm not.
So he would have the unlucky ones born too young get knifed in the head during birth.
It definitely was more critical.
BTW, mlmr, another thought: If we give the State, or the medical types, the authority to decide these kids aren't worth the investment, why shouldn't they just make the same decision about a kid who comes out at full term with spina bifida or cerebral palsy? Nice quick lethal injection, no muss, no fuss, no therapy and medical care costs...
Be very careful about walking down that road of deciding for other human beings whether or not their life is worth living. Some day you may be in a situation where someone else may decide your life is no longer worth living.
I don't remember where I saw the stat, but in an astonishing number of the partial-birth abortions that are performed because the child is deformed, the horrible deformity is a cleft palate.
I can't imagine wanting the child less because of the cleft palate, but there are people who'll kill a kid over one and in a particularly torturous way.
I agree:
In Holland, doctors do not routinely administer intensive care to babies born before 25 weeks of pregnancy.
Healthy adults will always be able to outvote the voiceless unborn. This brand of 'humanistic ethics' takes morality right down to the level of animal husbandry. Lovely.
Some things defy words. evil. pure evil.
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