« Of interest to birthers | Main | Wall Street Journal: Obama to Endorse Public Plan in Speech »

September 9, 2009

UK Mom Vs. Culture of Death

Topics: Abortion, Political News and commentaries

A chilling case of "medical guidelines" (i.e. death panel) infanticide (of the mom's premature son Jayden - right) from the Daily Mail (via Kathryn Jean Lopez)

Doctors left a premature baby to die because he was born two days too early, his devastated mother claimed yesterday.

Sarah Capewell begged them to save her tiny son, who was born just 21 weeks and five days into her pregnancy - almost four months early.

They ignored her pleas and allegedly told her they were following national guidelines that babies born before 22 weeks should not be given medical treatment.

Miss Capewell, 23, said doctors refused to even see her son Jayden, who lived for almost two hours without any medical support.

She said he was breathing unaided, had a strong heartbeat and was even moving his arms and legs, but medics refused to admit him to a special care baby unit.

Miss Capewell is now fighting for a review of the medical guidelines.

Medics allegedly told her that they would have tried to save the baby if he had been born two days later, at 22 weeks.

In fact, the medical guidelines for Health Service hospitals state that babies should not be given intensive care if they are born at less than 23 weeks.

The guidance, drawn up by the Nuffield Council, is not compulsory but advises doctors that medical intervention for very premature children is not in the best interests of the baby, and is not 'standard practice'.

James Paget Hospital in Norfolk refused to comment on the case but said it was not responsible for setting the guidelines relating to premature births.

A trust spokesman said: 'Like other acute hospitals, we follow national guidance from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine regarding premature births.'

Miss Capewell, who has had five miscarriages, said the guidelines had robbed her son of a chance of life.

She said: 'When he was born, he put out his arms and legs and pushed himself over.

A midwife said he was breathing and had a strong heartbeat, and described him as a "little fighter".

I kept asking for the doctors but the midwife said, "They won't come and help, sweetie. Make the best of the time you have with him".'

She cuddled her child and took precious photos of him, but he died in her arms less than two hours after his birth.

Read more ... (with additional images)

There's simply no other way to put it; the hospital followed "medical guidelines" that virtually guaranteed Jayden's death and that the "little fighter" was given no chance of life. I'm reminded of the birth of my own daughter who, when born under similar circumstances, was blue and had problems breathing. Fortunately,there were no such government-provided "medical guidelines," the doctors fought for her and today she is a healthy 21 year-old. Unfortunately for Jayden he was born under a government-run health care system that followed their guidelines developed by what equates to nothing less than a "death panel."

Posted by Richard at September 9, 2009 6:52 AM

Articles Related to Abortion, Political News and commentaries:

• UK Mom Vs. Culture of Death - Sep 09, 2009