British Doctors Leave Preemie to Die
Baby Jayden had the misfortune of being born two days too early.
Even though he was born at 21 weeks and 5 days into his mother's pregnancy, the preemie had a strong heartbeat and was moving his arms and legs upon delivery. But according to his mother in an interview with the Daily Mail, Jayden's doctors refused to offer him medical attention or access to intensive care because little Jayden was just two days shy of the 22-week cutoff date for treating premature babies established in the British national healthcare guidelines.
Unbelievably, the desperate pleas of Jayden's mother, Sarah Capewell, to help her still-breathing child were ignored. Capewell claims that she told the NHS doctor, "If he's born alive you have to help him." According to the story, Capewell said the doctor, following guidelines for British state hospitals for treating premature babies, responded, "No, we don't."
In England babies born prior to 22 weeks are not even legally recognized as babies and therefore are not issued birth certificates; Capewell had to fight to get both a birth and death certificate for her "fetus."
According to the Daily Mail, Capewell's midwife told her, "They won't come and help, sweetie. Make the best of the time you have with him." Indeed. Baby Jayden survived another two hours before he died in his mother's arms.
When Sarah Capewell entered James Paget Hospital in Norfolk, England she was not expecting to deliver a healthy -- or even live -- baby. She had gone into early labor, but was denied injections to try to stop the labor because she was not yet at 22 weeks of gestation. She was also denied steroid injections to help strengthen her baby's lungs for the same reason.
"When I went into labor I was told he would be born dead, disabled and his skin would most likely be peeling off," she recounts on her Web site, Justice for Jayden. Her doctor's advice was for her to treat the birth as a miscarriage, since her child was likely to be stillborn.
But that's not what happened. According Capewell, "he put out his arms and legs and pushed himself over" upon delivery and despite his doctor's grim prediction, his mother writes that "in actual fact [Jayden] was perfect." According to the Daily Mail, the midwife present at delivery described Jayden as a "little fighter."
Amellia Sonja Taylor was also a "little fighter." The 21-week-old Florida preemie who only weighed 10 ounces at birth defied odds and just celebrated her second birthday despite her doctors' pessimistic prognosis for survival.
So did Heather Pope. Though she was 23 weeks old, she was only 1.5 pounds and was given a mere 10 percent chance of survival. Heather's mother told the BBC that, "The doctors initially told us they would not do anything, but we insisted they at least try, and thankfully they came round." Heather is now a healthy and happy grade-schooler.
Sadly, Jayden Capewell was never given the chance to prove his doctors wrong. He was treated as a number, not a patient. And now the mother is asking why and waging a campaign to change England's national guidelines.
But Capewell is discovering that her noble crusade is tied up in her nation's ugly abortion politics. In England, there is genuine concern that lowering the viability age of a fetus would trigger another national debate over abortion limits as it did in 1990 when scientific evidence of fetus viability outside of the womb was the reason politicians lowered abortion limits from 28 to 24 weeks.
The good news for pro-lifers, like myself, is that if viability remains a benchmark for public acceptance of abortion, science is on our side. If only the battle to change Britain's guidelines didn't come at the expense of Jayden's life.
Even though he was born at 21 weeks and 5 days into his mother's pregnancy, the preemie had a strong heartbeat and was moving his arms and legs upon delivery. But according to his mother in an interview with the Daily Mail, Jayden's doctors refused to offer him medical attention or access to intensive care because little Jayden was just two days shy of the 22-week cutoff date for treating premature babies established in the British national healthcare guidelines.
Unbelievably, the desperate pleas of Jayden's mother, Sarah Capewell, to help her still-breathing child were ignored. Capewell claims that she told the NHS doctor, "If he's born alive you have to help him." According to the story, Capewell said the doctor, following guidelines for British state hospitals for treating premature babies, responded, "No, we don't."
In England babies born prior to 22 weeks are not even legally recognized as babies and therefore are not issued birth certificates; Capewell had to fight to get both a birth and death certificate for her "fetus."
According to the Daily Mail, Capewell's midwife told her, "They won't come and help, sweetie. Make the best of the time you have with him." Indeed. Baby Jayden survived another two hours before he died in his mother's arms.
When Sarah Capewell entered James Paget Hospital in Norfolk, England she was not expecting to deliver a healthy -- or even live -- baby. She had gone into early labor, but was denied injections to try to stop the labor because she was not yet at 22 weeks of gestation. She was also denied steroid injections to help strengthen her baby's lungs for the same reason.
"When I went into labor I was told he would be born dead, disabled and his skin would most likely be peeling off," she recounts on her Web site, Justice for Jayden. Her doctor's advice was for her to treat the birth as a miscarriage, since her child was likely to be stillborn.
But that's not what happened. According Capewell, "he put out his arms and legs and pushed himself over" upon delivery and despite his doctor's grim prediction, his mother writes that "in actual fact [Jayden] was perfect." According to the Daily Mail, the midwife present at delivery described Jayden as a "little fighter."
Amellia Sonja Taylor was also a "little fighter." The 21-week-old Florida preemie who only weighed 10 ounces at birth defied odds and just celebrated her second birthday despite her doctors' pessimistic prognosis for survival.
So did Heather Pope. Though she was 23 weeks old, she was only 1.5 pounds and was given a mere 10 percent chance of survival. Heather's mother told the BBC that, "The doctors initially told us they would not do anything, but we insisted they at least try, and thankfully they came round." Heather is now a healthy and happy grade-schooler.
Sadly, Jayden Capewell was never given the chance to prove his doctors wrong. He was treated as a number, not a patient. And now the mother is asking why and waging a campaign to change England's national guidelines.
But Capewell is discovering that her noble crusade is tied up in her nation's ugly abortion politics. In England, there is genuine concern that lowering the viability age of a fetus would trigger another national debate over abortion limits as it did in 1990 when scientific evidence of fetus viability outside of the womb was the reason politicians lowered abortion limits from 28 to 24 weeks.
The good news for pro-lifers, like myself, is that if viability remains a benchmark for public acceptance of abortion, science is on our side. If only the battle to change Britain's guidelines didn't come at the expense of Jayden's life.
Recent Posts
- Adoption Agencies Banned From Asking Parents About Guns (3/19/2010)
- Opinion: Proms Should Not Include Dates (3/19/2010)
- Stroller Review: BOB Revolution Duallie (3/19/2010)
- Opinion: Is Being a Wimpy Kid Better Than Being Cool? (3/19/2010)
- Mom and Baby Rattle and Roll at SXSW (3/19/2010)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Melissa 9-15-2009 @ 5:49PM
This is just disgusting....he was moving, breathing, and those little bastard doctors did nothing? They should all go to prison for murder and assault on the mom!
Reply
Amanda 9-22-2009 @ 6:20PM
When I read this I couldn't stop crying for almost an hour. I can't even begin to understand what Jayden's mother went through. They should have followed the her wishes to at least try and save him. This is a terrible, terrible thing and needs to be corrected immediately!
Maternal child RN 9-23-2009 @ 10:34PM
Unfortunately, babies this young do not survive and "treating" them can cause a great amount of pain and trauma. The public needs to realize that even 16 week fetus can live with a heart beat for hours! This does not mean that lungs, kidneys, and other organs and matured enough to support life. And the vast majority of children saved at 22-24 weeks gestation end up passing away or surviving with severe mental and physical handicaps. I am sorry this family had a loss, but the physicians decisions were appropriate.
RoseMarie 10-02-2009 @ 9:42PM
I cannot fathom why people who can even think of doing such sinister, unspeakable acts as these, then have the nerve to say that Hitler was insane. This self-centered gory psychotic behavior put them in the same, if not worse, catagory. They may be doctors, but definitely not physicians. Doctors have degrees, physicians are healers. Look it up in Greek, Latin and other languages. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. If this continues much longer, there will be no world. No Families, No Love - No World.
GOD HELP US!!!
shauna 10-02-2009 @ 11:49PM
If that baby was crying and moving around they should have tried to save him.Doctors that believe in that kind of stupidness cant believe in a higher power. Who are they?
My niece was born 1 pds 6 oz, the doctor's were'nt too optimistic but they did all they could and today she is a thick,healthy and smart as HELL 4 year old.
Bob Johnson 10-19-2009 @ 12:19PM
This is how socialism works. Wait a very few years and it will be the same here. All who voted for Obama wanted this, didn't they?
Heather 9-15-2009 @ 7:02PM
Never mind the fact that gestaional age is just a guess since very few women or Dr.'s can tell you the exact day you got pregnant. Denying him treatment over 2 days is rediculous. Any child born alive deserves a chance.
Reply
DeAnna Lynn 10-04-2009 @ 8:36PM
I totally agree with all of you who are disgusted by the behavior of these so called "Doctors". This is so horrible, and I won't be able to get this story out of my mind, ever. What has this world come to when we can coldly say, "oops, you're 1 week too early, so bummer, no treatment for you". My deepest sympathy goes out to the woman and her family. Every human being deserves medical treatment, and who gave us the right to determine WHEN a fetus becomes a HUMAN BEING???????
Melanie 9-16-2009 @ 1:31PM
And people in the US want a national healthcare system? I don't think so that's just sickening.
Reply
Melanie 9-22-2009 @ 6:21PM
Yeah, this story is sad and sick but it NOT an argument against universal healthcare. Americans die everyday because our health care is overseen by people trying to run a business. Private Healthcare Companies are interested in making profits not saving lives. This story may be an example of a flaw in their universal healthcare system-- but I say America's health care system that asserts people should receive medical care based on their financial means rather than their medical needs is a much more flawed, corrupt and immoral system.
myanna 10-05-2009 @ 11:58AM
This story should make us all take a long hard look at "universal" healthcare. For those of you who will compare the British NHS to private US insurance companies denying health care---remember this. If Ms. Capewell had been a private-insurance patient in the US and the insurance company had a policy against offering injections to stop labor before 22 weeks, she could have gotten the injections anyway and paid for them later. Or she could have appealed to the insurance company later with a good attorney (and many work on contigency) and still likely gotten the insurance company to pay the bill. And, if she had been a Medicaid patient, it would have been covered automatically. If she had no insurance and walked into a US ER, she could have gotten these vital injections long before anyone asked how she planned to pay for them. And all that is before this precious boy was even born--y'know, preventive medicine. Once this baby was born, neonatalogists would have been chomping at the bit to help him. Indeed, it would have been illegal to deny him care, no matter who his mother was and how much or how little money or insurance he had. But the British gov. holds all the cards for Britons, and expects them to be grateful for whatever crumbs of service they get. The British gov. decides who is worthy of care, and who is not.
kb 9-15-2009 @ 8:55PM
I wonder what would have happened, if she'd delivered this baby outside of the hospital and then showed up for help? I am appalled. I guess the opposite will be true to; the doctors will refuse to help some people because the government will decide they are too old. Or too handicapped, or too expensive.....haven't countries gone down ths road before. Why do people think they can repeat a behavior and get a different outcome. Either life is precious and worth saving, or...do the doctors and congressmen not realize that they and their children and families will live in this same world where someone else can decide who lives and dies?
Reply
Susan 10-01-2009 @ 11:25PM
One little fact about the US Congress members - THEY WONT HAVE THE SAME HEALTH PLAN that they are writing for the rest of the country! That has already been clearly established and is a given fact. When asked by a citizen if Congress would have the same health care package, the congressman just looked at the citizen deaf, dumb, and blind. Our country needs your prayers because OBAMA and his little group of CZARS (yes, the US has czars, now all created and named by Obama) is and EVIL EMPIRE and very scary!
PS During his first three months in office, Obama established funding for other countries ([paid for with our taxes) to pay for LATE TERM abortions. He didnt ask anyone or make a scene. He quickly and quietly signed an EXECUTIVE ORDER and single handedly made it law!
SKL 9-15-2009 @ 8:56PM
Yeah, this will be high on Obama's list of services to deny, especially since he fought hard to allow Illinois doctors to let even older, more viable (botched abortion) babies lie there and die. Forget the thought of compassion in national health care. Oh wait - wasn't that the original argument for it?
Reply
kathryn 9-16-2009 @ 2:19PM
many of u dont even understand all that is in the health care deal yet some of u are here spoting off rubbage as fact. this was not in america and they have some kind of law that prevents giving aid to a baby beofe so many weeks, im sure that is not in obama deal, so u people here can take your lies some place else. the health care dal is meant to lower helath care and help those that dont have access to health care, i see none of u are even remotely concern about poor people not getting health care at all here in america, yet u are so outrage over this as well as people should be, but people are people and the concern for all, ok.
Glorious 9-17-2009 @ 4:35PM
Um, Kathryn, r u OK? Your comment is a tad disjointed.
We DO know what is in Obama bin Lyin's health care bill and it is chilling. NO ONE is denied health care. Not all have health coverage. If I didn't have coverage, I would have to use the county hospital here in Houston. The only one lying here is BO. Everything out of his mouth is a lie these days.
This story is sad and tragic. I wish the mom all the best and success in her endeavor.
JennaDove 9-20-2009 @ 10:08PM
Thank you. I was wondering when someone would tell the truth about Obama. He not only voted on this same situation but also supports partial birth abortion. Yuk. I wonder if this situation would have been different had it been one of Obama's daughters, would he have changed his mind? And don't tell me I am lying. I am informed with everything Obama has and is doing. P.S. Do you all still want government health control ? ... cause this is exactly what will happen!! Don't believe me? Research it yourself. I did, that's how I know the truth.
Reality Rounds 9-15-2009 @ 10:27PM
I have been a NICU nurse for 16 years, and it is cruel, unethical, and akin to torture to resuscitate infants born before 23 weeks gestation. It has nothing to do with healthcare rationing or money. It is an experiment in futility to attempt to save one so young and immature. Please read this for some perspective: http://realityrounds.com/2009/09/15/is-letting-a-21-week-premature-baby-die-considered-health-care-rationing/
Reply
LS 9-16-2009 @ 9:59AM
I'm not questioning your experience, God knows you nurses are lifesavers. But what I would like to know is this...
Wouldn't it be better to make a decision about whether a preemie should live or die based on individual situations, rather than just making a blanket policy (governmental or otherwise) that "at X weeks we do nothing"? Because as I understand it, the gestation determination is sketchy, at best, and one baby, at 21 weeks could be as strong/developed as another at 23 weeks.
ktichenwitch 9-19-2009 @ 11:14PM
God bless you for saying this. My son was IUGR (very small for gestational age) and a relatively "late" 28 weeker. He is 11 years old now and we love him to pieces ... but he will never live independently. He can't answer the question, What's your name? Where do you live? He never goes anywhere without us or a babysitter or aide. He suffered endlessly on a ventilator for a couple of months and spent his entire first year in the hospital. He's a happy boy and he loves us and loves life, but I think he will NOT love life when his parents are gone and only his brother is around to try to make sure his life is OK. Many children born early suffer even more and continue to suffer throughout their lives. Doctors don't sweep in and SAVE babies as if they're just sweeping them out of the way of a truck -- they practice on them and the hospital generally makes a lot of money off their treatment.