Quality of Life Decisions at the Beginning of Life: Ethical Considerations

Abstract

The burdens of life with treatment may outweigh the benefits. Under which set of circumstances and to what extent a neonate should receive medical intervention is a difficult ethical issue involving principles and cultural aspects which may be in conflict. The nature of the disease, the risks involved in treatment or non-treatment, the degree to which therapy will extend life, the discomfort associated with therapy, the anticipated quality of life, the wishes of surrogates, and national cultural mores are the important considerations in determination of the neonate's best interest in order to arrive at ethically defensible decisions. These decisions are not necessarily cross-culturally uniform.