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| Baby 'mercy killing' debate call | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Doctors are calling for a debate over proposals for the 'mercy killing' of severely disabled babies. | |
| The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists wants a discussion over whether "deliberate intervention" to cause death should be legalised. | The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists wants a discussion over whether "deliberate intervention" to cause death should be legalised. |
| Withdrawing treatment is already permitted in some cases. | Withdrawing treatment is already permitted in some cases. |
| The college said it was not necessarily in favour of the move, but felt it should be debated. However, some are angry it has even been suggested. | The college said it was not necessarily in favour of the move, but felt it should be debated. However, some are angry it has even been suggested. |
| It changes the nature of medicine... into some kind of social engineering Professor John Wyatt, of University College Hospital London | It changes the nature of medicine... into some kind of social engineering Professor John Wyatt, of University College Hospital London |
| Simone Aspis, of the British Council of Disabled People, said: "We really do not know how long babies and young people will live for. | Simone Aspis, of the British Council of Disabled People, said: "We really do not know how long babies and young people will live for. |
| "We should not deny people the opportunity to live for as long as they are able to." | "We should not deny people the opportunity to live for as long as they are able to." |
| And Matthew O'Gorman, a spokesman for the Life charity, said it was "extremely worrying". | And Matthew O'Gorman, a spokesman for the Life charity, said it was "extremely worrying". |
| "There is a huge difference between withdrawing invasive treatment that has become futile, and taking action to intentionally end a child's life because treatment is considered to be too expensive or time-consuming." | "There is a huge difference between withdrawing invasive treatment that has become futile, and taking action to intentionally end a child's life because treatment is considered to be too expensive or time-consuming." |
| The college made its comments in a submission to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, which is carrying out an inquiry into the viability of life. | The college made its comments in a submission to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, which is carrying out an inquiry into the viability of life. |
| Nuffield will publish its report on critical care decisions in fetal and neonatal medicine next week. | Nuffield will publish its report on critical care decisions in fetal and neonatal medicine next week. |
| A working party has been consulting on the issue on the back of improvements in medical technology which means very premature and ill babies can survive, although some with severe disabilities. | A working party has been consulting on the issue on the back of improvements in medical technology which means very premature and ill babies can survive, although some with severe disabilities. |
| 'Difficult decisions' | 'Difficult decisions' |
| The college said: "We would like the working party to think more radically about non-resuscitation, withdrawal of treatment decisions... and active euthanasia, as they are ways of widening the management options available to the sickest of newborns." | The college said: "We would like the working party to think more radically about non-resuscitation, withdrawal of treatment decisions... and active euthanasia, as they are ways of widening the management options available to the sickest of newborns." |
| Maggie Blott, a member of the college, said these were "very difficult decisions" that would be taken over days, weeks and even months in consultation with the parents. | Maggie Blott, a member of the college, said these were "very difficult decisions" that would be taken over days, weeks and even months in consultation with the parents. |
| She added it was a debate that needed to happen. | She added it was a debate that needed to happen. |
| Doctors have mixed views over the suggestions. | Doctors have mixed views over the suggestions. |
| John Wyatt, professor of neonatal paediatrics at University College Hospital London, said: "It changes the nature of medicine... into some kind of social engineering." | John Wyatt, professor of neonatal paediatrics at University College Hospital London, said: "It changes the nature of medicine... into some kind of social engineering." |
| But John Harris, professor of bioethics at the University of Manchester, said it was not a question of whether or not these decisions were taken - as they already were through withdrawing treatment - but how to take them in the most humane way. | But John Harris, professor of bioethics at the University of Manchester, said it was not a question of whether or not these decisions were taken - as they already were through withdrawing treatment - but how to take them in the most humane way. |