[Twenty-five week limit for viability of the foetus is too rigid].
The a-priori withholding of treatment from premature infants based on gestational age only (< 25 weeks) puts a number of children born each year who would otherwise benefit from treatment and be able to lead a qualitatively good life at a disadvantage. Treating each case individually is necessary in order to decide if these children are viable.
van Goudoever
J B
JB
Erasmus MC-Sophia Kinderziekenhuis, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, sub-afd. Neonatologie, Postbus 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam. j.vangoudoever@erasmusmc.nl
D005328:Fetal Viability; D005865:Gestational Age; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009359:Neonatology / Q000941:ethics*