Abstract

BARRIA-PAILAQUILEN, Mauricio; BURGOS-SAELZER, Cecilia B.  and  TRIVINO-VARGAS, Patricia. Bioethical aspects in the therapeutic decisión of the extremely premature infant. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2021, vol.23, n.1, pp.1-.  Epub May 15, 2021. ISSN 0124-0064.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rsap.v23n1.89122.

The article raises the issue of therapeutic decision-making in the face of extreme premature infants, particularly under 25 weeks of gestation, undergoing advanced life support technology. For this, their prognosis and possible sequelae were considered. It exposes the way in which decisions can be made and the actors involved. The ethical perspective of therapeutic acts analyzes the arguments of quality of life and best interests for the patient. Additionally, it attempts to analyze the repercussions for public health, focusing particularly on the allocation and distribution of resources. It is concluded that decision-making cannot be done in isolation by the health team but requires the participation of parents. The dis-proportionate use of diagnostic and therapeutic technology would lead girls, boys and their parents to significant burdens of suffering, individual and state expenses. The quality of life must be weighted and adopted as a criterion analyzing the best interest for the child, his parents and society, in defense of the common benefit and equity.

Keywords : Quality of life disabled children; bioethics; infant, premature; public health; decision making (source: MeSH, NLM).

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )