When not to resuscitate the newborn baby

Abstract

In the acute situation where an infant is born and needs resuscitation then the default should be to provide the necessary care. There may be situations where one would not want to initiate resuscitation as the consequences of initiating and sustaining resuscitation may result in an outcome that would not be desirable. Examples would be extreme prematurity beyond the margins of viability or where an infant has been given an antenatal diagnosis of a lethal condition. It is a prerequisite that the decision not to initiate resuscitation is the consensus of all those involved. In the absence of such a consensus the default would be to provide the care that is needed.