Ethical problems in the management of myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus. The Milroy Lecture 1975.

Within the last generation the application of major advances in drug therapy, intensive care, transfusion techniques, surgery, anaesthesia, and radiotherapy, together with a vast expansion of knowledge due to increased investigative facilities, have led to an unprecedented, dramatic and beneficial increase in the number of persons who would previously have died, or lived with severe handicaps, but can now be cured. Techniques have also been developed to prolong the lives of many people who are now able to enjoy several extra years of productive and meaningful existence, and to alleviate and improve the quality of life of many seriously handicapped persons, enabling them to become integrated as useful and contented members of the community. Choosing from numerous examples of paediatric experience, it is notable that many more extremely premature infants now survive without physical or intellectual damage; infection can almost always be cured, including neonatal and all other forms of pyogenic meningitis and the now rare cases of tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis. The few remaining new cases of Rh-haemolytic disease are also readily cured. There are outstanding successes in the treatment of childhood malignancy. Paediatric surgery has made great strides. The prognosis of congenital heart disease, of obstructions of the alimentary canal and many other conditions has improved beyond recognition. Unfortunately, the indiscriminate use of advanced techniques of all types has also kept alive those who would have died but now live with distressing physical or mental handicaps or both, often for many years, without hope of ever having an independent existence compatible with human dignity. There are many examples, including those who have sustained major brain or spinal cord injuries.