[Omission of treatment of severely ill neonates].
For the past two decades it has been common practice in Denmark to withhold or withdraw medical care from neonates born before 28 weeks of gestation if they have poor survival chances or risk of future complications (poor quality of life). This practice is neither supported by the Danish Health Law, a law which furthermore does not include a consideration to quality of life, nor fully recognized as neonatal euthanasia. This is unacceptable as it results in a lack of proper guidelines relating to moral aspects and a failure to understand the full moral impact of neonatal euthanasia.
Institut for Medier, Erkendelse og Formidling, Københavns Universitet, Demark. vcb442@alumni.ku.dk
Lea
L
Gregers
Anders
A
Silber
D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003718:Denmark; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence