Does Data Shape Moral Decision? Or Do Values Shape the Data?

John   D.   Lantos

Abstract

This paper examines the differences between different countries in policies regarding babies born at the borderline of viability. Such differences clearly exist. It is unclear whether they exist, in such an explicit way, for other populations of patients. Differences seem to reflect both the unique cultural milieu of different countries and also the unique moral status of the peri-viable baby. Similar differences exist regarding the moral status of the fetus. Such differences are likely to increase as fetal medicine develops, and the line between intrauterine and extrauterine life becomes less distincts.

Keywords: Abortion, end-of-life decisions, ethics, extreme prematurity, fetal medicine, health care practices, practice variation, resuscitation