Allow Debate On Euthanasia For Seriously Disabled Infants Say Experts

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Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 05 Nov 2006 - 8:00 PST

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As medical science progresses the number of seriously disabled babies that survive is growing - we should therefore consider having a debate on allowing active euthanasia, for the good of families, says the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology. The College explains families who have the most severely disabled babies, babies who until recently would not have survived, are suffering enormously, both emotionally and financially.

The college explains that if obstetricians were allowed to carry out active euthanasia, some patients would be more inclined to wait till birth, rather than carrying out late abortions.

It seems there is some support for this proposal by several parents of severely disabled babies, medical ethicists and geneticists. However, many express concern that this could be the first step in the slippery slope of social engineering.

In a submission to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the College explained "We would like the working party to think more radically about non-resuscitation, withdrawal of treatment decisions, the best interests test and active euthanasia as they are ways of widening the management options available to the sickest of newborns."

Euthanasia of newborns, no matter how sick and/or disabled they are, is illegal in the United Kingdom. In the Netherlands, there are cases where active euthanasia of newborns is allowed, such as when a baby has severe spina bifida.

The college says it is not asking for euthanasia of severely disabled newborns - rather, it would like to see a debate on it.

It is not unheard of for UK doctors to privately admit that mercy killings of newborns do take place.

Opinion of Editor of Medical News Today

I am not the parent of a severely disabled and/or sick baby. I am not a severely disabled and/or sick baby. I am neither for nor against active euthanasia of severely disabled and/or sick newborns. I believe the subject should be debated.

"Doctors: let us kill disabled babies"
See this article in The Sunday Times, UK

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today