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Deliberate termination of life of newborns with spina bifida, a critacal reappraisal
- Source :
- Childs Nervous System, 24, 13-28. Springer-Verlag, Child's Nervous System
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- Springer-Verlag, 2008.
-
Abstract
- Objects Deliberate termination of life of newborns (involuntary euthanasia) with meningomyelocele (MMC) is practiced openly only in the Netherlands. ‘Unbearable and hopeless suffering’ is the single most cited criterion for this termination, together with the notion that ‘there are no other proper medical means to alleviate this suffering’. In this paper, both (and other) statements are questioned, also by putting them in a broader perspective. Methods First, a historical overview of the treatment of newborns with MMC is presented, concentrating on the question of selection for treatment. Second, a thorough analysis is made of the criteria used for life termination. Third, a case of a newborn with a very severe MMC is presented as a ‘reference case’. Conclusion ‘Unbearable and hopeless suffering’ cannot be applied to newborns with MMC. They are not ‘terminally ill’ and do have ‘prospects of a future’. In these end-of-life decisions, ‘quality of life judgments’ should not be applied. When such a newborn is not treated, modern palliative care always will suffice in eliminating possible discomfort. There is no reason whatsoever for active life-termination of these newborns.
- Subjects :
- Quality of life
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Pediatrics
Meningomyelocele
Palliative care
Spinal dysraphism
Decision Making
Clinical Neurology
Pain
Invited Paper
Termination of life
Quality of life (healthcare)
medicine
Humans
Ethics, Medical
Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Psychiatry
Spinal Dysraphism
Netherlands
Spina bifida
business.industry
Perspective (graphical)
Infant, Newborn
General Medicine
Newborn
medicine.disease
Involuntary Euthanasia
people.cause_of_death
Infant newborn
humanities
Suffering
Euthanasia, Active
Groningen Protocol
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Female
Neurology (clinical)
people
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14330350 and 02567040
- Volume :
- 24
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Child's Nervous System
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c39196213fe6a0bd218e11ccfa689852