[Twenty-five week limit for viability of the foetus is ethically correct].
The outcome in relation to survival and handicaps of premature infants born before 25 weeks gestational age is extremely poor. Treatment for this category of patients means benefiting a tiny minority but also inflicting damage to a much larger group of children. For this reason the policy of treating only infants from 25 weeks gestational age should be supported.
Kollée
L A A
LA
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, afd. Kindergeneeskunde/435, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen. l.kollee@cukz.umcn.nl
D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005328:Fetal Viability; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D009359:Neonatology / Q000941:ethics*