Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2026
A Swine Model of Neonatal Asphyxia
Published on: October 11, 2011
[Limitation of intensive care and infant death during the postnatal period]
1Service de Pédiatrie et Réanimation Néonatales, Hôpital Antoine-Béclère, 157, rue de la Porte-de-Trivaux, 92141 Clamart Cedex. michel.dehan@abc.ap-hop-paris.fr
Insights
Neonatal intensive care aims to save all newborns. In extreme cases of irreversible brain damage, ethically ending an infant's life postnatally may be considered, offering an alternative to third-trimester abortion.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Medical Ethics
- Bioethics
Context:
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) aim to preserve newborn life.
- Severe, irreversible brain damage can result from life-saving interventions.
- Physicians face ethical dilemmas regarding life support and intervention termination.
Purpose:
- To explore the ethical considerations of medical intervention to end an infant's life in neonatal settings.
- To review discussions among French neonatologists regarding these complex ethical dilemmas.
- To outline fundamental principles for current recommendations on end-of-life decisions in neonatology.
Summary:
- Discusses the ethical quandary in neonatal intensive care when saving a life leads to severe, irreversible handicaps.
- Presents French neonatologists' discussions on the possibility of ethically terminating an infant's life postnatally.
- Considers this postnatal termination as a potential alternative to third-trimester feticide, under specific parental requests and ethical frameworks.
Impact:
- Provides ethical guidance for complex neonatal end-of-life decisions.
- Informs medical professionals and ethicists on navigating life-and-death situations in neonatal care.
- Contributes to the bioethical discourse on the value of life and quality of life in neonates.
Abstract:
The primary goal of neonatal intensive care is to save the life of all newborns, recognized as a complete human being despite their life-threatening situation. There are situations however where extensive and irreversible brain damage leading to major handicaps is the cost of saving the infant's life. In these extreme situations, where the infant may or may not yet depend totally on life support systems, the physicians in charge are faced with the question of whether medical interruption of the infant's life could be an ethical option. We recall here the main phases of the discussions conducted by french neonatologists faced with these dilemmas and the fundamental principles of current recommendations. Interruption of infant's life in the neonatal unit could be a possible alternative to feticide performed during third trimester termination of pregnancy: in an ethic and coherent medical and human approach, it would be possible to envisage termination of life during the postnatal period in certain specific cases at the request of the parents.
