Should Premature Babies of Less Than 23 Weeks be Resustated?
By Aurone
@Aurone (4755)
United States
February 19, 2007 11:59pm CST
I just read an article about the youngest premature baby to be born and survive, Amillia, was less than 23 weeks old and only as long as a ball point pen (weighing 10 oz) when she was born. She has spent 4 months in the intensive care unit and is now coming home.
Does and should this birth and survival change the recommendation of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics that babies born before 22 weeks should not be resuscitated or given intensive care? For babies born after 23 weeks, the wishes of the parent are taken into account and I guess its the doctors decision on whether to put the baby in intensive care. What do you think?
2 people like this
6 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
19 Nov 07
Definitely....if the child is viable, then every effort should be made to save it's life. As time passes, our knowledge will increase and procedures will get better, increasing the success chances of each child in the future.
@secluded (35)
• United States
19 Nov 07
Yes, I think that babies born, no matter what the age should be given the chance to survive. To automatically kill a baby that is born premature is pretty much abortion. If there is a chance to keep the baby alive, then it should be taken. And if there is not... then the chance should be taken anyway, because doctors are often wrong.
@dradelelassy (1208)
• United States
20 Feb 07
prematures regardless of weight and age should take their chance to live by all means.
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
20 Feb 07
Yes anything that can keep a baby alive is a good thing . I would want anything that could help my child stay alive to be done . Any child who has a chance at being given life should have every option available to them .
I can't imagine how hard this would be for the parents to have to go through this and I feel that it should solely be up to the parents what they want done .
@poppoppop111 (5731)
• Canada
23 Feb 07
i think every baby should have the right to have a chance of life. i have a preemie who was born at 27 weeks. she is perfectly healthy today. everyone should have the right to give their child all the help they can get.
