Deliberate termination of life of newborns with spina bifida

Abstract

After carefully reviewing Dr. de Jong’s work about spinal dysraphism, my personal opinion is that we almost do not see in Spain this type of malformations anymore. In fact, during year 2006, we have only operated 1 case out of 225 surgical operations in children, and in year 2005, we have not operated anyone. I shall not discuss about the number of abortions that are practiced in Spain in case of discovering these malformations during pregnancy. My personal policy, as well as Dr. McLone’s policy, is the one that we used several years ago when we operated 25–30 cases per year in La Paz Hospital in Madrid, Spain. Many of these children have survived, and they are happy in spite of having the handicap of using a wheelchair, crutches, or have some difficulties walking but without using any device. Recently, I had the opportunity of assisting in a religious wedding of two children operated by me 25 years ago. Their brains are normal, and they behave normally, and this is the reason by which we allow them to survive instead of allowing them to die because they can be happy in the future in spite of their medical problems and the financial problems that they may have along their life because of their malformations. It is also important for me to say that I have never seen a patient suffering of pain or that they need continuous analgesia. This is the reason I do not agree with passive euthanasia that may be practiced in The Netherlands (Holland). All my neurosurgical associates are of the same opinion. Childs Nerv Syst (2008) 24:45 DOI 10.1007/s00381-007-0485-4