Creepy/disturbing/traumatic
Not sure which of the 3 categories above this fits into, perhaps all 3.

But a couple of weeks ago there was a program about premature babies and the different ways in which they are treated if they are born too premature to survive longterm.

The Dutch just let them die, and the doctor spoken to talked about the babies in such an offhand manner - 'if they die they die, it is nature' - I really do not see how he can sleep at night..

The bit that freaked me out however was seeing a uk doctor perform CPR using 2 fingers on a baby no bigger than these 2 fingers.. it is an image that has stuck with me!

I am a father of 4 and remembering them as babies makes me misty eyed when I think what might have been!!

Sorry for lack of funnies, but it was the first thing that came to mind when seeing the topic.
(the_icks has the sweet essence of giraffe, Sat 9 Apr 2011, 21:02, 7 replies)

It's only the advances in medicine that have allowed such premature babies to survive.
The Dutch doctor was right. At what point do you stop trying to keep premature babies alive?
( girlinthehole, Sat 9 Apr 2011, 21:20, closed)

It's only advances in medicine which have allowed very many previously fatal conditions to be rendered somewhat less fatal. I presume you had all the jabs which protected you against various childhood nasties, and wouldn't be averse to life-saving surgery should it be required...

Stop trying to keep them alive when they're either too fucked to have a decent life, or dead. Before that - why not? Give the little buggers a fair shot.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Sat 9 Apr 2011, 23:30, closed)

You have a point but those tiny little things don't look like they belong anywhere other than the womb.
I foresee a future of growing babies in test tubes, which to be honest would have probably made me more likely to have one.
( girlinthehole, Sun 10 Apr 2011, 8:31, closed)

Try working there.
I do work at this hospital I visit this unit on a weekly basis and often end up in the toilets after having a good cry. I feel for the staff who work there day in day out- the ones who are currently being down graded to save money for the Trust.
(JuicyJ, Sat 9 Apr 2011, 21:53, closed)

Alas I am a nurse on this unit. Have nothing to add really apart from a little wave to a fellow BWH employee!
(Aleox, Mon 11 Apr 2011, 23:02, closed)

he can sleep at night because he probably understands the reality of it better than you
I can understand why it would disturb you, especially being father (which I am not so we have different perspectives). I guess that doctor probably has a limited budget to do the best he can for the most he can.
Premature babies take an enormous amount of resources to keep going and a good deal of the survivors will have learning difficulties and physical disabilities, and not turn out to be useful members of society.
This doesn't mean they are not worthy of life but in a world of limited reasources you have to draw the line somewhere. The resources to help a 26 weeker have a subnormal life may be better spent helping many 32 weekers survive to have normal lives.
Just because it is possible doesn't mean we should.
(dyllon nice beaver., Sun 10 Apr 2011, 17:06, closed)

The resources were there, I do not disagree with the principle, it was just the matter of fact way in which he said it, I do imagine that emotional seperation is important when decisions like this have to be taken, and just because we can prolong the lives it does not mean that we should in every case... the doctor I felt sorry for was the one under obligation to ressucitate the baby knowing full well that it was pointless...
(the_icks has the sweet essence of giraffe, Sun 10 Apr 2011, 20:21, closed)