Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Infant
A baby is born with a severe genetic defect that results in major brain damage, including deafness and blindness. Moreover, there is little chance of cognitive growth, and no chance of survival past two or three years of age. The infant responds to pain, but is not in pain. The parents want full treatment on the hope of a miracle. Treatment will cause the infant's pain, and can only extend its life for a few months. Must the care team follow the parents’ wishes?
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Legally the care team should listen to the Infants parents for several reasons. The first reason is that since the infant is a minor the parents legally are the guardian/proxy of the child and are acting in the best interest of the infant. The other reason is depending on which state the doctor is practicing in if he does refuse to treat the infant the parents can take him to court because it is illegal in most states for a physician assisted suicide and illegal in all states to perform passive euthanasia.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the doctor should refuse the to treat the infant on the grounds that it is futile to treat the infant and the doctor should explain to the parents the whole situation and why although it extends the infants life it does not keep him alive for a significantly long time