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Infanticide of defective newborns: an old midwife's story
1Research Centre, Alberta Hospital Edmonton, Canada.
The story of how a midwife many years ago dealt with defective newborns is used to illustrate complete control by a system external to the family. Similarities exist with current public policy concerning the interrelated issues of abortion, neonatal euthanasia, and infanticide in which the family system is often ignored. It is argued that the family's values, expectations, and desires are relevant to the establishment of public policy in this sensitive domain.
The story of how a midwife many years ago dealt with defective newborns is used to illustrate complete control by a system external to the family. Similarities exist with current public policy concerning the interrelated issues of abortion, neonatal euthanasia, and infanticide in which the family system is often ignored. It is argued that the family's values, expectations, and desires are relevant to the establishment of public policy in this sensitive domain.