End of life decisions in newborns in The Netherlands: medical and legal aspects of the Groningen protocol.
The international press has been full of blood chilling accounts concerning a supposedly new practice in the Netherlands of terminating the life of severely defective newborn babies with a protocol. Our aim is to give insight into the medical and legal aspects of this protocol and to describe its contents. The legal developments concerning termination of life in newborns in the Netherlands are being discussed.
Verhagen
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Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
D026683:Advisory Committees; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases; D009426:Netherlands