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Selective treatment decisions and the legal rights of very young infants
Author(s) -
Petersen Kerry A
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1994.tb138243.x
Subject(s) - foundation (evidence) , best interests , medical treatment , law , terminally ill , test (biology) , medicine , psychology , political science , family medicine , nursing , palliative care , paleontology , biology
Selective treatment of neonatal infants who are terminally ill or born with profound disabilities is becoming a controversial issue. The potential of medical technology, the practices of doctors and the expectations of parents have moved ahead of the law in this area. The interests of parents, children and medical practitioners would be better served by a clarification of the law. Legal change should be based on an ethical and moral foundation. The application of the “best interests” test should be given further consideration. (Med J Aust 1994; 160:377‐381)