Encéphalopathie anoxo-ischémique du nouveau-né à terme: questions éthiques

摘要

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is emblematic of the main dilemmas experienced in neonatalogy. Five of these are discussed in this paper. How to determine the best interest of the newborn when outcome is difficult to assess with certainty? How to manage time when the infant often get quickly autonomous towards life-sustaining treatment while decision-making should not be rushed? How to involve parents in the decision-making process? Could it be ethically justified to consider foregoing artificial nutrition? Could it be legitimate to exceptionally consider breaking the legal frame by resorting to an euthanasic procedure?