Withdrawal of treatment

Published on 03/06/2015 by admin

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Last modified 03/06/2015

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CHAPTER 30 Withdrawal of treatment

Mark Davies, David Cartwright

General principles

In certain circumstances it is considered appropriate to withdraw life support from an infant, or to not initiate life support. This will always be done with close collaboration between the consultant responsible for that baby’s care, the nursing and social work staff, and the baby’s parents; embracing the principles established at consensus conferences in New South Wales in 1986, 1989 and 1998, and the findings of the latest consensus conference held in Australia (published in 2006). [Lui K et al. Perinatal care at the borderlines of viability: a consensus statement based on a NSW and ACT consensus workshop. Med J Australia 2006;185(9):495–500.]

• Consideration must be given to the interests and wellbeing of the infant.

• The initiation or the prolongation of treatment is not necessarily in the best interests of the infant.

• The opinion of parents as to the best interests of the infant must be respected and accounted for.

• Society has the right to intervene when parents’ decisions are not clearly in the best interests of the infant.

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