Dear all,
I read the article about euthanasia in the Netherlands. Interestingly enough, just yesterday I attended a conference with doctors who are in the NICU, concerning the very questions of ending life, and the doctor-parent interaction. There were many issues. One is that if doctors tell parents their honest opinion, that for instance the baby is very ill and really doesn't have much of a chance of life, then parents might think that the doctors has given up on their baby, and they might want to go to another hospital. Often times there is also the struggle between families wanting to do everything they can, but not really thinking of the consequences. The doctors were talking about maybe setting up three different outcomes: Life, life with severe difficulties, and death. Additionally, doctors aren't really good at predicting life or death, strictly in those terms. They can predict death pretty well, but they aren't so good at predicting survival, or terms of survival. One other interesting fact is that while medical advances can prolong life in low birth weight babies (500-2000 grams) they do not really prevent death significantly. All we are doing therefore is prolonging the inevitable.
One further aspect, which is especially relevant here in Philly is that often black families think that doctors are experimenting on their baby, giving the baby substandard care, are more ready to give up on black babies. It's kind of a deep seeded mistrust of doctors and hospitals.
Now regarding the article.
It is true that mercy killings go on everywhere. Here in the NICU if they think the baby has little/ no chance, and the parents decide to let the baby die, they do stop life support. That can be viewed as a type of euthanasia, although I do not know if they give the babies sedatives or pain killers to ease their passing. They might. I will have to ask a doc around here. I do not like the idea of an independent review board that can decide. In theory it is okay, and these issues need to be talked about, but parents with doctors' help need to make the decision, not anyone else. it is only their responsibility, their baby. people do not want to be told what to do in this situation.
I really appreciate the fact that the Netherlands is really trying to open this issue up, because with medical science the way that it is now, the health outcomes of these babies are questionable. As always, I think that the babies parents should make the ultimate decision, they need to be told about the baby's prospects realistically, and doctors need to be more honest. I do think that we need to have a paradigm shift in this country, and face the fact that medical advances don't always mean better life.
Euthanasia in adults should be allowed in my opinion, with the family/spouse making the decision if the person is not conscious.
That's all, gotta go.
love,
H

- posted by H @ 12/01/2004 09:13:00 AM