Steinberg A
Center for Medical Ethics, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Clin Perinatol. 1998 Sep;25(3):779-90, xii.
Ideally, decisions to forego life-sustaining treatments in neonates should be arrived at by a team of expert physicians, nurses, and social workers, together with both parents. Surrogates, however, may occasionally have other considerations than the best interest of the ill neonate, and sometimes the postpartum mother may be temporarily incompetent to make such grave decisions. Therefore, a careful assessment of the parents' decision is required. Physical help in the caring for the child, psychologic family counseling, educational and vocational assistance, and even quality institutionalization must be provided if the parents are unable to fully care for the child.
理想情况下，关于放弃对新生儿进行维持生命治疗的决定应由一组专家医生、护士和社会工作者以及父母共同做出。然而，替代决策者有时可能会有除患病新生儿的最大利益之外的其他考虑因素，而且产后母亲有时可能暂时无能力做出如此重大的决定。因此，需要仔细评估父母的决定。如果父母无法充分照顾孩子，就必须在照顾孩子方面提供实际帮助、为家庭提供心理辅导、给予教育和职业援助，甚至提供优质的寄养机构安置。
