Found this article...your thoughts?

Question

This is an article I found on MSN concerning whether or not to try saving very early preemie babies. I know what they are saying, that they don't want to put the child thru unnecessary suffering, but how can they know whether the doctors' efforts will bear fruition or not? They are not God. I believe every child deserves a chance, at least. To do less than that is passive neglect, in my opinion. To not try to save a child just b/c the child might have severe disabilities, and it affecting his or her "quality of life"...is absurd. We wouldn't be the ones living that child's life? How do we know?? Those are my thoughts; I'm interested to hear yours. Thx!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15730874/wid/11915773?GT1=8717

Answer 1

If you are really interested you can read the actual report here: http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/fileLibrary/pdf/CCD_web_version_8_November.pdf

Since this report came out the media has been in a bit of a frenzy on this subject. With the advances in neonatal care it is possible for even very tiny babies survive. But there is a very grey area in where exactly the line should be drawn.
In Holland they have a definite cut off point of 25 weeks, no child born below that is offered intensive care.
In Britain it is left for the doctors to decide. It is a task that no one envys.
My son was born at exactly 24 weeks, had a very rough ride but made it through with no learning difficulties. I know children born at later gestations who had an easier time of it at the beginning but who went on to suffer many problems. Indeed I know many babies born at term who have disabilites.
Every baby should be treat as a individual and given due consideration regardless of gestation.

Answer 2

I have been in Special Care ward watching over my small son. He was 6 weeks prem.

He was sharing a room with babies born at 5 months gestation. These babies will never know the life you and I enjoy.

I believe that we have a duty of care. No human should suffer unecessarity. No we are not God so to speak but we are his face, arms and legs and we do the work God asks us to do, whether we are Mums, Dads, Doctors, Nurses or otherwise. When one is compelled to help and is passionate about it, this is Gods work.

God is the final decider. If the baby lives then this is Gods will. If the baby dies then it becomes part of the Divine Source, the same source that gave spirit that chance in the first place.

Either way it is Gods choice.

Blessings be in peace and light
Harriett Potty ;)

Answer 3

In 1962 my sister was born with the (then lowest) birth weight. She was born almost three months early with a weight of only 26 ounces. She dropped to one pound, 5 ounces and wasn't expected to live another day.

Quality of life? Well, she grew up normal and has had and continues to have a great life. If someone had made the decision back then that she wasn't worth the effort to try to save her, what a waste that would have been.

Answer 4

This is about studies, and the trends they show. It's about statistics in the very broad sense, and is not meant to be either a guiding light or a law. It doesn't address individual cases that are outside the norm or discuss moral applications. It's informational in nature , meaning that parents and doctors may take these statistics into consideration, or not.

Answer 5

Hmmm, if you are brain damaged, and you do not know up from down, and you cannot make sense of the world around you, but all you know is the pain and suffering you are feeling.
Where the hell is the quality of life there!
Physical disability can be overcome, but mental........
It is now law in the U.K.

Answer 6

The way I see it's like this>>>A doctor takes an oath that he/she will do what they can to help sick or hurt ppl in need....And the way I see it, if a baby is sick or hurting, or there's a chance that it will live given help, then it's the doctor's RESPONSIBILITY to do what he/she can to help it.