Guest guest Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 A woman was brought in to the hospital with preterm labor @ 23 weeks pregnant. Most generally 23 weekers do not survive. They told her that if the baby were born now, it wouldn't survive. It would be too small. Most body organs haven't finished developing yet. The eyes are still fused together. The lungs were the last organs to mature and at 23 weeks the baby stood no chance of survival. They were attempting to stop her labor, let her stay pregnant as long as they could. She delivered. The nurse was going to treat the patient as a stillbirth/miscarriage according to hospital policy and protocol. The baby weighed 16 ounces (1 pound); 12 inches long; It had 8 and 9 apgars. The baby was breathing on it's own, was pink and didn't oxygen. The NICU team came over- took a look at the baby and said that this baby isn't viable & they were considering it a stillbirth. The " stillbirth " was thrashing arms and legs around, crying, trying to suck it's thumb and was quite pink. They told the Mom that less than 500 grams is considered incompatible with life (yet the baby weighed over 500 grams). Most babies born at 24 or 25 weeks would suffer major complications in life, probably have severe cerebal palsy and mental retardation, probably blindness or deafness, not to mention major lung problems; and her baby was only 23 weeks. As the dehydration progressed, the baby's skin started turning into coarse/cellophane & paperthin. It was really sticky and when they would move it any, it's skin would stick and pull and the baby would cry. They started the process of filling out the death certificate. The baby had a warm body temperature, Heart beat of 130's-140's and normal respirations. Oxygen levels were normal and no oxygen was needed. How can you pronounce someone dead with normal vital signs? The NICU team made the call to not resuscitate the baby if indeed it did go into cardiac arrest. They didn't feed the baby b/c they didn't have nipples small enough. Mom had no milk yet. An IV was not started on the baby to keep it hydrated and give it some glucose. The baby was surviving with no care being given to him at all. They told Mom dying. Withhold food & water from anyone they will die. how do you feel as a Mother at this point? They were refusing to care for this child by not doing anything for the baby. Who's right is it to refuse treatment?? Do you think this mother wanted them to do every possible thing to help this baby? They told her it wouldn't live- yet it was living. Any breached patient rights/civil rights? Who should make the decision to withhold treatment? Anyone have any moral or ethical standards at this point?? Under any other circumstance, if the Mom refused treatment for her baby, she would be held responsible. Who's to say the baby would be severely physically and mentally retarded? They said it wouldn't live past the birthing process; yet he did survive almost 48 hours after birth, he survived on nothing but sheer determination and love from his family. Just when you think you've seen it all, something else comes along to prove you wrong. As the old saying goes, " there's 2 sides to every coin. " How do you feel, if you are this mother??? How do you feel, if you are the nurse??? How do you feel if you are the newborn baby??? Does anyone have rights??? Maybe? Just not in Kentucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 unfortunately yes, a very true & real story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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