Attitudes towards the resuscitation of periviable infants: a national survey of American Muslim physicians

Abstract

American Muslim physicians have high rates of support for delivery room resuscitation of periviable infants. Their intended behaviour appears to associate with religious values.

End‐of‐life decisions for extremely preterm infants – a matter of language, gender and education?

“… confirmed the association between the personal importance of religion and a preference for prolonging life even in situations where there were gloomy prospects for unimpaired survival. This appears to be a consistent finding both when physicians and lay people are surveyed. Switzerland does not just have four official languages; it is also religiously diverse, with equal shares of Protestants and Catholics, as well as sizable Muslim and Jewish communities.…”

“…As in similar polls conducted elsewhere (6,8), the respondents in the Hendriks et al study (5) only comprised a minorityless than 24%of those surveyed. The views of the population at large may be quite different from the answers given by the men and women who actively participate in surveys.…”

“…As in similar polls conducted elsewhere , the respondents in the Hendriks et al. study only comprised a minority – less than 24% – of those surveyed.…”

Highlights in this issue

“…Bonnie Arzuaga et al report the results of a survey of a group of Muslim physicians in the United States about their attitudes towards resuscitating periviable infants. The survey showed that there was high rates of support for delivery room resuscitation of periviable infants.…”

Perspectives on periviability counselling and decision‐making differed between neonatologists in the United States and the Netherlands

“…The inability to predict the individual outcome of an infant born at the threshold of viability has led to variations in the treatment offered and provided to extremely premature infants in different countries (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Cultural differences, including different perceptions on the quality of life, sanctity of life and the acceptance of comfort care as an option, also influence medical practice (1)(2)(3)(4). These issues may explain some of the differences between the national guidelines for perinatal care in the Netherlands and the United States.…”