Pediatric Bioethics: The Complexities of Contextualizing Seriously Ill Newborns

Abstract

Seriously ill newborns are a part of a recent bioethical phenomenon that emerged during the late 1970s. With the rise of new, innovative medical technology, doctors can keep these seriously ill newborns alive, but at monumental financial and psychological costs. This thesis utilizes several economic and ethical frameworks to contextualize these newborns within our healthcare system. After all, our healthcare resources are limited. We must therefore discern between the continuation of an infant’s treatment and conversely, the withdrawal of treatment.