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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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[The Best Interest of the Child in Neonatology: Is It Best for the Child?]

Fermín J González-Melado1, María Luisa Di Pietro2

  • 1Centro Superior de Estudios Teológicos - Badajoz España. ferminjgm@hotmail.com.

Cuadernos De Bioetica : Revista Oficial De La Asociacion Espanola De Bioetica Y Etica Medica
|September 18, 2015
PubMed

Insights

The best interest of the child standard, used in neonatal intensive care, may not truly serve children

Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatal Intensive Care

Background:

  • The 'best interest of the child' standard originated from decisions on suspending life-sustaining treatments and evaluating pediatric quality of life.
  • This standard has been interpreted through vitalistic and non-vitalistic extremes, with the latter dominating Western bioethics and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically analyze the 'best interest of the child' standard in neonatal intensive care.
  • To evaluate its application in withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed analysis of the 'best interest of the child' standard.
  • Examination of its bioethical underpinnings and implications for parenthood.

Main Results:

  • The standard is often simplistic, utilitarian, and proportionalist.
  • It fundamentally alters the basis of parenthood.

Conclusions:

  • The 'best interest of the child' standard is not optimal for neonates in intensive care.
  • Its application in decisions regarding life-sustaining treatments is particularly questionable.

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