Euthanasia of Newborn Babies
Euthanasia is a subject of ongoing dispute in all European Countries. But, it is especially controversial that newborn babies can also be euthanized. It makes one wonder- why do such outrageous things take place?
A Philosopher Peter Singer has written in his article for Los Angeles Times called ''Pulling Back the Curtain on the Mercy Killing of Newborns" that euthanasia is a merciful action. What's more, in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, two doctors from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands describe several situations when they chose to carry out euthanasia on infants. There were 22 cases like this over a period of seven years. It is important to note that neither of the doctors were prosecuted. These doctors, called Eduard Verhagen and Pieter Sauer, mention three types of circumstances which can be used as a basis for euthanasia.
The first group of infants who can be euthanized include those babies who would die soon after birth despite implementation of any treatment. This is very controversial because doctors cannot know for sure that a particular form of treatment will not work, until they implement it. There is always a chance that a baby will survive. Besides, doctors are also unable to say for sure that a baby will die soon after birth. For example, a baby girl was born with a rare condition called ectopia cordis. It means that her heart and part of her stomach were growing outside of her body. Doctors advised an abortion but her parents refused. Even experts claimed that her chances to survive were very slim. The baby was born through a C-section and underwent three operations to place her heart inside her chest. Everything went well and the baby is alright now. This is just one example of many exceptions where doctors' predictions did not come true.
Another group of infants which could be euthanized, according to Singer, require intensive care such as a respirator to be able to live. Besides, their life expectations are very low. It may include babies with brain damage. But, it does not mean that they are not able to survive. But, they may have a poor quality of life.
Infants who suffer enormous pain are another group which can be euthanized. For example, with the most serious form of spina bifida where the spinal cord fails to close properly. Euthanasia in these circumstances is controversial because these infants will not die as a result of a withdrawn intensive care. Nevertheless, when it is unlikely that there will be any improvement the child's life can be ended. But, parents' consent is necessary.
So, babies in Netherlands can be euthanized because of pain they suffer and various conditions they have. But, doctors can never be hundred percent sure that their health will not improve. There is always hope.
Sources: https://www.smababy.co.uk/media/1360/newborn-how-to-breastfeed-big_banner.jpg
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/12/baby-girl-survives-after-being-born-with-heart-outside-her-body-in-uk-first
https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2017/07/13/should-one-be-allowed-to-euthanize-severely-deformed-or-doomed-newborns/