Pre-22-week babies "should not have intensive care"
Wed Nov 15, 2006
By Patricia Reaney

LONDON (Reuters) - Premature babies born before 22 weeks gestation should not be given intensive care treatment to keep them alive, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Despite medical advances in prolonging life, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics said the chances of an infant surviving after less than 22 weeks in the womb are very slim and that they often develop severe disabilities.

In guidelines issued to help doctors and parents make difficult decisions about the care of extremely premature infants, the report recommended parents of babies born after 23 should be consulted and have the final say in whether intensive care is given to their baby. the rest