The Role of Congress in Decisions Relating to the Withholding of Medical Treatment from Seriously Ill Newborns

Abstract

In the past year several bills and resolutions have been introduced into the United States Congress that contain provisions for the protection of seriously ill newborns in our nation's hospitals. This paper examines the role that Congress has played during the past decade in medical decisions affecting the lives of seriously ill newborns. Alternatives for future Congressional involvement in the newborn nursery are also presented. These alternatives include a general statement of national intent regarding the rights of handicapped newborns, substantive civil rights legislation prohibiting discriminatory practices against handicapped infants, the establishment of a Congressional commission, and expanded funding for research in the field of bioethics.

Keywords

seriously ill newborns infants-at-risk public policy withholding medical treatment bioethics “Baby Doe Rule”United States Congress civil rights Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

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References

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