Guidelines offer choice on premature baby resuscitation

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

A new set of guidelines on the medical care of very premature babies suggests those born before 26 weeks should not be given intensive treatment.

The guidelines were formed during a workshop last year involving doctors, nurses, health professionals and parents from New South Wales and the ACT.

They are aimed at helping parents and doctors make difficult decisions about the care of extremely premature infants, taking into account the child's chance of an acceptable quality of life.

The authors say that for babies born between 23 and 26 weeks of gestation, it is acceptable medical practice not to initiate intensive care, if parents wish.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1781670.htm

[Grace Oz]

about time some bloody common sense prevailed!

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Agreed!!

[BSNtobe2009]

I truly believe in a quality of life. I could have dealt with my daughter being deaf, or blind, or crippled, or missing a limb, but anything dealing with extensive brain damage, that isn't living. It is just isn't. My family has very clear instructions that should I ever get into a major car accident and would be left with major brain damage to just let me go.

God forgive me for saying this, but if my daughter was born facing the same thing, she would have been better off being in God's hands. Babies that are facing such horrible physical defects grow up, and what happens if they outlive the parents? They get put in a home or some other type of institution where bathing, feeding, and bathroom is the highlight of their existance. To me, this is far worse than death.

[katie258]

I was born at seven months...My girlfriends mother was born at twenty five weeks in the fifties and survived.. I think I'm fairly normal, but then I suppose I would say that. I'm very happy that the nurses and doctors decided to keep me going..

[Grace Oz]

i was born at seven months...my girlfriends mother was born at twenty five weeks in the fifties and survived.. i think i'm fairly normal, but then i suppose i would say that. i'm very happy that the nurses and doctors decided to keep me going..

katie, i'm glad you survived too!

eight weeks premature is a bit different to a 26 weeks gestation birth.

your friend's mother is indeed fortunate to have survived being born that early back in the 50's. there wasn't the knowledge or technology then as there is today.

sometimes decisions need to be made which are practical and sensible when it comes to resusitation and that goes for newborns as well as adults. too often, the baby or person, is condemned to a life of misery. commonsense has to prevail.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

I read this as taking the onus off the treating doctors to HAVE to intervene - particularly if the parents did not wish intervention.