Ethical dilemmas in extreme prematurity: recent answers; more questions

Abstract

Advances in perinatal care allow survival of more extremely premature infants, but the implementation and continuation of intensive care may itself constitute an ethical dilemma, given the limited chances of intact survival among the patients most at risk. This paper discusses several key issues raised by the options that are under general consideration with reference to births of infants at the threshold of viability, in particular: the implications of making a distinction between extreme prematurity and other general medical situations that may involve decisions on ending support; the concrete nature of the restrictions on therapy in such patients interactions and the need for feedback between parents, medical staff and society.