Babies born with major disabilities : the medical-legal interface

• Published in: Pediatric surgery international Vol. 15; no. 5-6; pp. 310 - 319
• Main Authors: WARD, C, MYERS, N. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.07.1999; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Congenital Abnormalities - psychology; Congenital Abnormalities - therapy; Decision Making; Disabled Persons - legislation & jurisprudence; Disabled Persons - psychology; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Ethics; Ethics, Medical; Euthanasia, Passive - legislation & jurisprudence; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; India; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Israel; Medical sciences; Netherlands; New Zealand; Patient Advocacy - legislation & jurisprudence; Patient Selection; Philosophy, Medical; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Quality of Life; Tropical medicine; Netherlands; Israel; Australia; Asia; Europe; Oceania; New Zealand; India; Human; Disability; Ethics; Newborn diseases; Newborn; Treatment; Critically ill; Countries; Legal aspect; Congenital disease; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0179-0358; 1437-9813
• DOI: 10.1007/s003830050589

This article explores some of the legal and medical issues that confront doctors, lawyers, ethicists, and families when faced with the problems of a baby born with one or more major disabilities. Attitudes vary widely, and these are emphasised by cultural and social aspects in different parts of the world. Although the legal issues vary, in a large number of countries there appears to be less variation than with the medical issues.