I'm so glad this isn't my decision ..

[confus-ed]

Parents' plea over premature baby (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3701492.stm)

I personally have every sympathy with the parents here & understand completely their desire to give 'every assistance to help her live', but on the otherhand if it were me faced with the life the doctors describe for this tiny baby, I'd want someone to pull the plug on me ... but on your child ?

I just don't know who's 'right' on this one.

[Archer]

I feel for the small child and her parents but this brings into light euthanasia once again as in where does the hippocratic oath begin and end.

As for the statement:
Trust managers agreed the case should be discussed openly so that it could reassure the public about the treatment it offered and the decisions it made

this sucks of aiming for public/media sympathy before a suit ensues for neglect.

Hippocratic Oath -- Classical Version (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_classical.html)
Hippocratic Oath -- Modern Version (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html)

[kato2274]

Parents' plea over premature baby (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3701492.stm)

I personally have every sympathy with the parents here & understand completely their desire to give 'every assistance to help her live', but on the otherhand if it were me faced with the life the doctors describe for this tiny baby, I'd want someone to pull the plug on me ... but on your child ?

I just don't know who's 'right' on this one.
WOW. having spent the first week and a half of aidan's life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit wondering if he was going to make it, and seeing him on a vent I can certainly relate.

I think after a certain point of time, as a parent, you have to step back and think about your childs quality of life instead of your own, and make a prudent decision with that firmly in mind. I hope that if we had gotten to that point I would've been able to do that, but I don't know. and I'm reminded everyday watching him eat, play, sleep, of how thankful I am that we never had to make a choice like this.

my heart goes out to the parents . . . . I hope they find the strength to deal with whatever comes to pass in this situation.

[Archer]

My sympathies go out to all parents in this situation and I guess each must be taken individually as and when they occur and should not be limited by expense or Doctors recommendations with regard to longevity.

[TripleRLtd]

Damn, that is depressing. Let us know how that "case" turns out, huh?

[GeekMom]

Parents' plea over premature baby (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3701492.stm)

I personally have every sympathy with the parents here & understand completely their desire to give 'every assistance to help her live', but on the otherhand if it were me faced with the life the doctors describe for this tiny baby, I'd want someone to pull the plug on me ... but on your child ?

I just don't know who's 'right' on this one.

My daughter (born with severe spina bifida & hydrocephalus) lived until the age of 12, first in the hospital, then at a children's nursing home. She was never away from medical care overnight.

My OB didn't think she would live long enough when born for me to see her.
She always surprised all the Dr.'s and me :) I didn't give a DNR for her until I knew all that had been done was. I knew and understood what would eventually happen. I loved her and still do.

It's a VERY tough choice!

GeekMom

[TripleRLtd]

Damn GeekMom, good for you. That is sad, but soo warming to the soul. I'd have fought for life, too. I'll bet those are 12 years you will never forget and always cherish.

[NooNoo]

I completely understand their dilemma. I know we all felt better while treatment was underway... when death finally ensued (50 days in case, 9 years in another) it dashed eveyones hopes and somehow made the grieving process that much harder.

As one who has watched parents of children in similar situations, I know the Wyatts cannot give up hope. Parental feelings fly in the face of all logic and practicalities and yes even the possiblity of inflicting pain on your child in the hope that your child will overcome any adversity.

[PuterGeekGirl]

It would be a horrible thing to have to go through and I have to agree with Kato's statement...I hope I would have the strength to make the best choice for my child. I understand the parent's feelings, but in so many ways it seems so unfair to the lil girl to go on suffering. :sad: :sad:

[confus-ed]

UPDATE : Ill baby 'should not be revived' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3723656.stm)

Doctors should not resuscitate a premature baby girl if she stops breathing, the High Court has ruled.

Really sad :sad:

[gazzak]

Really sad :sad:

In this situation nobody wins.

[WebHead]

I would put my own feelings aside and consider the best interests of the baby for long-term and quality of life. I would not attempt to revive the baby if she stopped breathing again. Poor little girl. What a sad story. :sad:

[TripleRLtd]

Well, that sucks.
The "Judge":
And he added: "I am only too aware of my own limitations in making so momentous a decision." But he made the decision nonetheless.
Truly sad...http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/sad2.gif

[GrandDad]

Well, that sucks.
The "Judge":
But he made the decision nonetheless.
Truly sad...http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/sad2.gif
well somebody was going to have to sooner or later - one way or another .

[TripleRLtd]

So I suppose that you can be so calm and collected with a situation and decison like this? Not be "moved" whatsoever? http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/sad2.gif
Who is to say this baby is "in pain"? Why and how is this baby "suffering"? This baby just lies there seemingly unaware of her surroundings. I'm sorry, but I see the possibility of a wee life with no feelings or thought, as of yet...sort of like a plant that shifts on its own to face the sun. That is still LIFE! Who here is to say what life is based on with our limited knowledge of life and soul? This baby is bringing LIFE to her parents, whatever shape she is in. That is love and effect/affect...and ONLY life and love can do that. So, is this baby really a nothing with no chance, as the "judge" seems to imply (as well as the NHS)? Or, is this baby something that we cannot understand, and therefore, NOT make choices like this? And now, with modern tech, we can actually prolong this wee life. And LIFE she is!!!! Would I choose life? YOU"RE DAMN RIGHT!!!

[GrandDad]

So I suppose that you can be so calm and collected with a situation and decison like this? Not be "moved" whatsoever? http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/sad2.gif
Who is to say this baby is "in pain"? Why and how is this baby "suffering"? This baby just lies there seemingly unaware of her surroundings. I'm sorry, but I see the possibility of a wee life with no feelings or thought, as of yet...sort of like a plant that shifts on its own to face the sun. That is still LIFE! Who here is to say what life is based on with our limited knowledge of life and soul? This baby is bringing LIFE to her parents, whatever shape she is in. That is love and effect/affect...and ONLY life and love can do that. So, is this baby really a nothing with no chance, as the "judge" seems to imply (as well as the NHS)? Or, is this baby something that we cannot understand, and therefore, NOT make choices like this? And now, with modern tech, we can actually prolong this wee life. And LIFE she is!!!! Would I choose life? YOU"RE DAMN RIGHT!!!
exactly why I said ;
well somebody was going to have to sooner or later - one way or another .



p.s. You have a bad habit of infer'ing other peoples thoughts and feelings like now when no mention was made of feelings or thoughts .

yes its sad that the child has and may have to endure those health problems in the first place let alone the family , I'm not there to know all the details let alone the personel involvement to say what they should do .

[NooNoo]

The technology is such that two years ago, the baby couldn't have been revived...but that's a whole other argument.

Triple - you do not have access to all the info, just that which is reported. Just because you do not know how a doctor can decide a baby that cannot communicate is in pain, doesn't mean that the doctor cannot.

Another point was brought up: Intensive care cots are limited in number. What about the baby that could be saved with no question about quality of life after treatment who cannot be treated because this baby is using the last available cot.

As bad as it sounds, "sorry we cannot revive your baby because of the lack of resources", try telling the mother in the queue - "sorry your baby could be saved but we don't have a spare intensive care cot".

The fact that it is NHS is not relevant, even in the private sector there are only so many of these specialist cots.