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Something must happen before first breath.

Daniela Polese1, Marcella Fagioli2, Fabio Virgili3

  • 1Department of Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. daniela.polese@uniroma1.it.

BMC Medical Ethics
|May 13, 2021
PubMed
Summary

The traditional view of human life beginning with the first breath is challenged by scientific evidence. Key neurological and physiological events crucial for life occur before this initial breath.

Keywords:
Brain’s activationBrain’s developmentExtrauterine environmentFirst breathFoetusHuman birthInfantNewborn

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Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Neuroscience
  • Medical Ethics

Background:

  • The concept of the 'beginning of human life' is often based on humanistic or religious beliefs, lacking scientific foundation.
  • These differing views influence societal aspects like law, reproductive technology, and end-of-life care, particularly for preterm infants.
  • A common medical tenet is that human life begins with the first breath, despite documented events preceding it.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the paradigm that human life begins with the first breath.
  • To highlight the importance of neurological and physiological events occurring before the first breath.
  • To advocate for a scientifically grounded definition of the beginning of human life.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing physiological and neurological studies.
  • Analysis of the timing of critical events relative to the first breath.
  • Conceptual re-evaluation of the definition of the beginning of human life.

Main Results:

  • Pivotal physiological and neurological events are documented to occur before the first breath.
  • The Central Nervous System shows early activation at birth, preceding respiration.
  • These findings suggest the need to reconsider the 'first breath' as the sole determinant of life's beginning.

Conclusions:

  • The 'first breath' paradigm is not scientifically supported as the definitive start of human life.
  • There is a need for the scientific community to adopt a clear position against this outdated notion.
  • Exploring and defining scientifically-based alternatives for the beginning of human life is essential.