[Withholding treatment in terminally-ill newborns with Islamic parents].
End-of-life decisions for terminally-ill newborn infants are usually made with the consent of parents as well as physicians, but may occasionally involve disagreement about which decision is in the best interest of the child. Paediatricians, while acting in accordance with the principle of respecting the autonomy of the parents, may collide with their own motive of avoiding pointless suffering of the infant. Based on their religious beliefs Islamic parents may not consent to an end-of-life decision. Three newborn girls who eventually died had been suffering from a skeletal dysplasia and a serious bronchopulmonary dysplasia, serious intractable deterioration after surgery for necrotising enterocolitis, and trisomy 18 respectively. In the first two cases there was no preceding consensus between parents and physicians and the girls died after more suffering than the paediatrician found acceptable. The physicians should aspire to prevent conflict situations by paying sufficient attention to the differences in beliefs. This demands that physicians understand and respect different beliefs and that they are able to communicate on the subject of these differences. It is important to Islamic parents that the natural course allows Allah to exercise his authority over life and death, and human dignity. Doing the best for the child is often more important than respect for patient or parent autonomy.
Westra
A E
AE
Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, afd. Huisartsgeneeskunde, divisie Klinische Methoden en Public Health, Amsterdam. annawestra@yahoo.com
Smit
B J
BJ
Willems
D L
DL
D003657:Decision Making; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007514:Islam; D009359:Neonatology / Q000941:ethics; D009426:Netherlands; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D028761:Withholding Treatment