Jade McKay's eight-month-old son, Zakkari Johnson, weighed only 1lb 3oz when born and was not expected to survive 24 hours. (UK Sun) He had three major operations to treat chronic lung disease. But mother Jade has been told that doctors plan to take baby Zakkari off his life support system. Jade vowed last night she would take them to court in a bid to save his life.
“He’s fought so hard to be here. When I looked into his eyes I knew he had it in him to survive. If they take him off life support he’ll die, I can’t understand why they want to kill my baby" St. Georges Hospital explained: “This baby has been receiving intensive care support since birth. He remains critically ill and our clinicians will continue to meet with the family.” (UK Mirror)
2 comments:
I'd be vary wary of concluding too much from these newspaper stories.
The knotty ethical issue they don't refer to is that of what to do when faced with infants we term "micro-preemies," those on the very edge of viability. A 23 week gestation infant is right on that cusp.
@Chris - you're so right, these cases are so intricate it's impossible to know all the ins and outs if you're not right there in the fray. I wish the baby, mother, and hospital staff all the best as they suffer through this difficult time. There will never be an easy way to create a 'standard of care' when it comes to heroic measures for preemies and micropreemies.
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