[The very small premature infant. Ethical problems from a neonatology viewpoint]

The opening text of the conference provides a summary of the definitions, the probabilities, the mortality rate, the postnatal risks and the perspectives for life of very small newborn babies. The best indicator for the later development of the child is the length of gestation and the birth weight. The care of the parents themselves is very important, as they are going through a very difficult period of changing emotions, anxiety, guilt, joy and grief. The further development of the child can only be forecast with probabilities and not with certainties; therefore, every decision for or against the life of a prematurely newborn baby can be either correct or incorrect. The place for taking this kind of decision is within the team caring for the baby. The difficult process of decision-making and its responsibility cannot be handed over to the parents. The final responsibility lies in the hands of the physician.