It is unclear whether depression increases the probability of making a request for euthanasia/PAS, but in the Netherlands most requests in depressed patients are rejected, leaving a depression rate in cases that is similar to the surrounding population. Less evidence is available elsewhere, but some level of depression has been identified in patients undergoing euthanasia/PAS in all the countries studied. Whether the presence of depression is ever compatible with an ethical decision on euthanasia/PAS is discussed.

Aim To measure growth outcomes in preterm infants after introduction of a nutritional care bundle. Methods A total of 509 infants of less than 32 weeks’ gestation in a level III neonatal intensive care unit in the UK were studied until they were discharged home. Growth and feeding data were extracted from a prospective data registry for 18 months before and after the intervention. The intervention consisted of earlier routine bovine‐derived multi‐component fortification once the infant has reached 120ml/kg/day of enteral feed from the first day of life and an exclusive human milk diet with routine bovine‐derived multi‐component fortification of 120 mL/kg/day. Results After the intervention, growth velocity between birth and 28 days increased from 9.7 ± 4.1 to 12.2 ± 4.6 g/kg/day (mean ± standard deviation), and weight z score change decreased from −1.06 ± 0.56 to −0.76 ± 0.59 (P < 0.00002). For the entire group, growth velocity by the discharge home time point increased by 1 g/kg/day. However, the growth velocity of infants who were discharged on an exclusive human milk diet increased the most, from 10.8 ± 2.2 to 13.0 ± 2.8 g/kg/day (P < 0.00001), eliminating the difference seen between these infants and those discharged on infant formula before the intervention. Conclusion The introduction of a simple nutritional package improved weight gain, particularly in infants fed exclusive human milk at discharge.

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Feeding a child is an emotive experience. Selective eating (often referred to as fussy eating) is a typical part of early childhood but can cause significant anxiety to parents. This article covers the factors that influence the development of selective eating, the key points to elicit in history and examination, and evidence-based advice for parents.