Virginia Governor Ralph Northam defended a situation where a severely deformed newborn infant could be left to die, saying if a woman desired an abortion during labor, “a discussion would ensue” between doctors and the mother. Is this ethical?
If you want to require resuscitation of a newborn who is severely deformed and destined for a short and painful life you should never be allowed to have a DNR.
If the mother expresses the desire for an abortion just after labor has begun, I would hope that a discussion would ensue. It’s what happens after that may be the problem.
Of course, if she makes this statement while in hard labor, I would hope it is taken with a grain of salt and any discussion would transpire after birth. Almost anything can and has been said during that time and usually not meant.
The moral and legal requirements would be the same here as they would for a car accident or other situation where any other human child was grievously injured.
Even if you’re pro-choice, it should be a no brained that doctors have a medical responsibility to do everything they can do to ensure the health and safety of a newborn infant after it has been born
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