INFANT BIOETHICS COMMITTEE
J. F. L. MD
A preterm baby had had necrotising enterocolitis and his entire intestine was necrotic. At 2 weeks of age, he no longer needed the ventilator, and a laparotomy confirmed that he had no functional bowel. Should the parents be asked if they would like the baby to have a central intravenous line sited, for total parenteral nutrition? At the Albert Einstein College of Medicine this question was resolved by the Infant Bioethics Committee, which was unanimous in the opinion that the parents should be offered the placement of a line. Some committee members believed that it would be better for the baby to die sooner rather than as a result of complications of an intravenous line. The parents decided on a central line for their baby. Despite many complications of the line, the infant lived for 17 months, but his mental development was poor and he was able to do little more than recognise his parents. He was perceived, by his parents, as experiencing pleasure, and the parents enjoyed caring for him.
From the parents' point of view, the committee made the right decision, but whether or not the treatment was in the best interests of the infant is unknown. Would the course of events have been any different if the ethics committee had not been involved?
