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Genetics and the Law III pp 253–257Cite as

“Infant Doe”

Federal Regulations of the Newborn Nursery Are Born

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Abstract

The audience assembled represents a large cross section of individuals committed to health care: physicians, nurses, social workers, hospital administrators, lawyers, and the ministry. Most of you have read of the “Baby Doe” regulations and their implications for the care of severely handicapped newborns. It will be helpful to review the chronological events leading to these regulations and their present status. I should then like to consider why these are such difficult ethical dilemmas. As a physician practicing at the bedside, I shall be describing a perspective on these issues from the standpoint of the physician’s role in the decision-making process.

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Selected Readings

  1. Fletcher, J. C, Abortion, euthanasia and care of defective newborns, N. Eng. J. Med. 292:76 (1975).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    I. David Todres M.D. (Director, Associate Professor of Pediatrics)

  2. Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    I. David Todres M.D. (Director, Associate Professor of Pediatrics)

Authors
  1. I. David Todres M.D.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Human Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, 80 East Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA

    Aubrey Milunsky MB.B.Ch., D.Sc., F.R.C.P, D.C.H. (Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pathology, Director) (Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pathology, Director)

  2. Health Law Section, Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, 80 East Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA

    George J. Annas J.D., M.P.H. (Edward Utley Professor of Health Law Chief) (Edward Utley Professor of Health Law Chief)

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© 1985 Aubrey Milunsky and George J. Annas

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Todres, I.D. (1985). “Infant Doe”. In: Milunsky, A., Annas, G.J. (eds) Genetics and the Law III. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4952-5_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4952-5_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4954-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4952-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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