A Neonatologist Looks at the Baby Doe Rule: Ethical Decisions by Edict

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Controversy and public attention has swirled around the recent Jane Doe case and the recent "Baby Doe" Rule issued by Secretary of Human Services Margaret Heckler.1 Jane Doe was an infant born with congenital esophageal atresia and Down's syndrome. The child's parents and physician chose to defer surgical repair of the child's esophageal anomaly. The child's anomaly precluded provision of enteral nutrition. No parenteral nutrition was provided, and the child died 6 days later. Several months later, Secretary Heckler of the Department of Health and Human Services issued a directive stating that hospitals receiving federal funding must display on a sign a telephone number by which anonymous observers could report parents or physicians who were witholding medical treatment or food from defective newborns.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: