Periviable babies: Italian suggestions for the ethical debate

Abstract

With the advancement of medical technology, the outcomes for high-risk infants have greatly improved. However, hand and hand with the more positive result of saving neonates, modern neonatal intensive care has also brought to light several issues regarding the ethical grounds in infant care. One of the greatest problems concerns newborns at the threshold of viability. Treatment guidelines have been formulated for these babies in different countries all around the world and there is the general consensus to withhold resuscitation in neonates when gestational age in less than, or equal to 23 weeks, with intensive care ensured for infants at 25 weeks' gestational age. In order to provide helpful suggestions during the initial management of the threatened birth of an infant with a gestational age of 25 completed weeks or less, we conducted a study for reviewing international studies on survival and morbidity rates, international guidelines and practice recommendations. This gave rise to the creation of a consensus document subsequently submitted to the Italian Scientific Societies for approval. The ‘Carta di Firenze’ does not attempt to deal with the problems related to pediatric euthanasia or eugenetics: its aim is to protect the infant and the mother from undue suffering although addressing recommendations for the work of clinicians.

Keywords:

• Perinatal care
• guidelines
• newborn
• foetal viability
• withholding treatment