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My wife and I were interviewed at length for a forthcoming 7:30 Report insight into the controversy surrounding recent comments by the Victorian Health Minister putting into the public arena debate about treatment of babies born at less than 25 weeks' gestation. Given that our third child was born earlier than this cut off (which has been suggested by an English ethicist and is being actively pursued in Britain, as well as already applicable in the Netherlands), and that our child had "less than the ideal outcome" (he has eyesight difficulties amongst others), we were asked to share our perspective on the debate and share some of our experience of the NICU journey.
The interview covered nearly two hours of conversation with the reporter in front of the camera, following on from conversations over the phone previously. We visited places we had never explored publicly, and some we hadn't visited in our memories for some time. It was a draining experience.
The experience of extreme prematurity is a traumatic one for all concerned. Our son spent 176 days in hospital following his birth, facing over 20 major health challenges - having stared death in the face on many occasions. To be faced with life and death decisions concerning anyone is not something easily prepared for, nor faced. It is not an experience I would wish on anyone. We cannot imagine life without S, although we wonder at what he endured to get through hospital.
Debate on issues such as this are important to have. When medical care takes place at the boundaries of life and death we need to ensure that decision-making processes empower patients and their loved ones, and humanise what is extremely traumatic. Arbitrary cut-off dates for treatment seem absurd at any level. When withdrawal of treatment - death - is the better choice, then it needs to be a choice made with due respect for all concerned.
I anticipate - with some trepidation - the program. When such a long interview needs to be edited into a wider conversation, it is hard to know what my wife and I am going to be heard saying...
Posted by gary at June 24, 2005 03:21 PM
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