Withdrawal of neonatal mechanical ventilation against the parents' wishes.
Neonatologists and parents usually agree when intensive treatment should be stopped. We describe the management of two babies where there was disagreement between the parents and hospital staff, and discuss the medical, legal and ethical implications of the two cases.
Isaacs
David
D
Clinical Ethics Advisory Committee, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. davidi@chw.edu.au
Kilham
Henry
H
Gordon
Adrienne
A
Jeffery
Heather
H
Tarnow-Mordi
William
W
Woolnough
Janet
J
Hamblin
Julie
J
Tobin
Bernadette
B
D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008020:Life Support Care; D008297:Male; D009359:Neonatology / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012121:Respiration, Artificial