Critical care decisions in fetal and neonatal medicine: ethical issues

REPORT LAUNCH AND DISCUSSION

Thursday 16th November 2006, 10.00–12.30

Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT

Advances in medicine mean that families and health professionals can be faced with extremely difficult decisions about the care of very premature or seriously ill babies, which may concern:

- the care of a fetus and mother prior to birth;

- whether to resuscitate a newborn baby, and admit him or her to neonatal intensive care; and

- whether to institute further treatment after birth, or to withhold or withdraw the baby’s treatment.

These decisions are complex, emotionally demanding and may have lifelong consequences.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics will be publishing a report, Critical care decisions in fetal and neonatal medicine: ethical issues, which examines the ethical, social and legal issues which may arise. The topics covered include: guidelines to help parents and professionals make decisions about instituting intensive care for extremely premature and seriously ill babies; decision making during pregnancy when fetal abnormalities are present; how the best interests of a baby may be assessed; the lifelong implications for a baby and their family; the decision making process and resolving disputes; social and economic implications for policy makers; and information requirements, including the need for research.

This seminar will provide an opportunity to discuss the principal conclusions and recommendations of the Report with members of the Working Party. The speakers will include:

Professor Margaret Brazier

Chair of the Working Party and Professor of Law, University of Manchester

Professor David Archard

Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy, University of Lancaster

Professor Neil Marlow

Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham

Ms Bonnie Green

Head of External Relations until January 2006, BLISS – the premature baby charity

Professor Linda Franck

Professor and Chair of Children’s Nursing Research, Institute of Child Health, University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust

Joining the speakers for the discussion will be:

- Professor Philippa Russell, Policy Adviser for Disability, National Children’s Bureau

- Professor Charles Rodeck, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College London

- Ms Anne Winyard, Leigh, Day & Company Solicitors

- Professor Catherine Peckham, Institute of Child Health, University College London

- Dr Stavros Petrou (tbc), Health Economist, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU), University of Oxford

Copies of the report will be available at the seminar. Admission is free but places should be reserved in advance. If you would like to attend, or for more information, please send your name, address, affiliation (if applicable) and email address to:

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Tel: +44 (0)20 7681 9619

Fax: +44 (0)20 7637 1712