Ethical guidelines on resuscitation of newborns. Health the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

摘要

1. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children from birth have a right to life, and are protected against discrimination of any kind, irrespective of their parents' or legal guardian's race, sex, color, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status. Internationally accepted human rights instruments include the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.2. It is essential to consider the welfare of individual children within the context of respect for their human rights, since there are reported cases of improper discrimination against the newborn on the grounds of sex, color, disability or ethnicity.3. There are uncertainties in many cases, about both the chance of survival of the newborn, and the risk of permanent disability. Furthermore, the wide variability of outcome, based on local factors, adds to this uncertainty.4. There is a hugedisparity in the availability of means of care for newborns between resource-poor and resource-rich regions and individual hospitals.5. Availability and quality of antenatal care has a major influence on the child's condition at birth and long-term outcome. Consistent management plans, before and after birth, may improve this outcome. Conflicts and disputes between obstetricians, pediatricians, and other health professionals can cause distress and confusion for parents, and compromise effective care.6. Since the interest of parents and of other members of the family are inextricably intertwined with those of the newborn, the parents have the right both to be informed of the child's diagnosis and prognosis and to be involved in the decision-making process.