Is it is ethical to take heroic actions & save a baby so premature that it will

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  1. aDayInMyLife1 profile image91
    aDayInMyLife1posted 12 years ago

    Is it is ethical to take heroic actions & save a baby so premature that it will have major issues?

  2. profile image0
    kate-olsonposted 12 years ago

    The thing is, it's hard to know whether or not it will have major issues later in life. Lots of premature babies, after they survive infancy, are perfectly normal people. I think it would be unethical--no, wrong--to not save a baby just because of the possibility of health risks later on.

  3. Gail Daley profile image59
    Gail Daleyposted 12 years ago

    I agree with Ms Olson. Being born premature should NEVER be the sole reason for not saving a life. Decisions like this should never be made out of fear.

  4. profile image58
    R. J. Lefebvreposted 12 years ago

    A question that only a medical doctor with a great deal of experience, or a person of spirit (someone who knows what  reality lies in the future) who has witnessed simular past events with some value, or parents who want the baby and are commited  and able to devote most of their time for the baby's care no matter what gets in the way.

  5. talitz2550 profile image60
    talitz2550posted 12 years ago

    If you are the parent of this baby...would you ask this question in the first place?
    a lot of normal babies have been born but later on found out with abnormalities, give the premature baby his/her right to live... who knows he/she'd be one of those gifted premature ones.

  6. Ealair profile image61
    Ealairposted 12 years ago

    While working in pedatric endocrinology I saw a lot of things.
    The first thing I saw was people desperate to save their 6-10 year olds. I understand that completely. Their child often had cancer and most days was perfectly healthy, but was progressively spiraling downward. I had to eventually leave the practice because it was heartbreaking.
    The second thing I saw was children who were "heroically rescued" at birth and were suffering their entire lives. Their parents had made the choice for them (the burden of parenthood to be sure) and had them saved. These kids were miserable. Most couldn't even attend school for the requirement of constant medical attention, and many of them will never have jobs.
    This is not a statement on people with disabilities not being able to be productive members of society in any way. The financial burden that their parent's incur on their behalf does a few things: stresses the parents out, stresses the child out, causes healthcare costs to go up.
    Being born prematurely and being born extremely prematurely are two very different things. A premature baby that is small, but has a chance as a normal life with medical help needs to be saved. Absoultely 100% needs to be helped. A child that has no chance at enjoying life's simple pleasures, why are you doing that to the kid?
    If you're religious you may believe their soul will be reborn into another body, a healthy body. If not, you may believe this person simply fades, either way, forcing someone to live and never enjoy life is torture.
    Ultimately the decision is up to the parent, and it should be respected. But people need to be aware when they make decisions to force someone to live, be it a premature baby or an individual who is between life and death in limbo, you are affecting someone besides yourself. Your sorrow over losing that individual is nothing in comparison to the feelings of that individual about the situation.
    Are you truly giving them the best life, or are you just afraid to make the hardest decision of your life?

 
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