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End-of-Life Decisions in Neonatology from a Children’s Rights Perspective: Dutch Developments Examined

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Ethical Dilemmas for Critically Ill Babies

Abstract

End-of-life decisions regarding severely suffering newborn infants remain one of the most difficult issues in health care. In the last two decades the Netherlands have witnessed several developments regarding this issue. New research results and policy developments on legal and medical aspects of neonatal end-of-life decisions in the Netherlands have vitalized the Dutch debate once more and provide good cause for further reflection on specific issues. This chapter offers a reflection on several issues in current neonatal end-of-life practice in the Netherlands and discusses how these issues relate to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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Dorscheidt, J. (2016). End-of-Life Decisions in Neonatology from a Children’s Rights Perspective: Dutch Developments Examined. In: Verhagen, E., Janvier, A. (eds) Ethical Dilemmas for Critically Ill Babies. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 65. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7360-7_9

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