Lethal Defects in Foetuses and Neonates Palliative Care as an Alternative to Eugenic Abortion, Eugenic Infanticide, and Therapeutic Obstinacy
نویسنده
چکیده
I propose that a lethal (L. letalis) defect in a foetus or newborn be understood as: (1) a developmental anomaly that leads to spontaneous abortion, immature delivery, or intrauterine death; (2) a developmental anomaly leading to the premature death of a live-born child, irrespective of any therapy that may be applied; and (3) a developmental anomaly classified as grounds for legal abortion. Developmental anomalies belonging to the third category do not necessarily have to be lethal per se, but in all three cases, the anomaly leads to the death of the foetus, either directly or indirectly, and so, in effect, is lethal.
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