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'No revival' for premature babies 'No revival' for premature babies
(10 minutes later)
Babies born at or before 22 weeks should not be resuscitated or given intensive care, a new report says. Babies born at or before 22 weeks should not be resuscitated or given intensive care, a report says.
The recommendation is being put forward by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, which considers ethical questions raised by advances in medical research.The recommendation is being put forward by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, which considers ethical questions raised by advances in medical research.
For those born after 23 weeks, the recommendation is that doctors should review the situation with the parents and take their wishes into account.For those born after 23 weeks, the recommendation is that doctors should review the situation with the parents and take their wishes into account.
The report has been released after two years of research.The report has been released after two years of research.
BBC health correspondent Jane Dreaper says the report comes against a backdrop of medical advances which have been able to sustain the lives of very premature babies.BBC health correspondent Jane Dreaper says the report comes against a backdrop of medical advances which have been able to sustain the lives of very premature babies.
But it also arrives in the wake of greater information about the number who either do not eventually survive, or go on to have disabilities. However, research shows that many of these babies do not live very long, or go to have severe disability.
Our correspondent says the Nuffield Council on Bioethics felt a discussion of this controversial subject was timely. Part of the problem is that despite advances in modern medicine, it is notalways obvious to doctors which babies will survive and thrive.
Its inquiry also looked at longer-term support for families, and resource implications for the NHS. Tthe Nuffield Council on Bioethics inquiry also looked at longer-term support for families, and resource implications for the NHS.
Bliss, the premature baby charity, is campaigning for one to one neonatal intensive care, and for decisions to made based on clinical reasoning, and not financial constraints.
The charity said the UK had the highest rate of low birth weight babies in Western Europe.
About 300 babies are born in the UK each year at 23 weeks.
They have a 17% survival rate, compared with 50% for those born at 25 weeks.
There are about 250 units in the UK offering neonatal intensive care, highdependency and special care.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics was established in 1991 to examine ethical questions raised by advances in biological and medical research.