Newborns with Myelodysplasia — The Rest of the Story

Abstract

This year has seen a notable attentiveness toward the problem of the newborn with birth defects, specifically myelomeningocele. In the legal sphere, the new child-abuse act legislates against "withholding of medically indicated treatment" unless (1) the infant is irreversibly comatose, (2) the provision of such treatment would merely prolong dying, or (3) the provision of such treatment would be virtually futile in terms of the infant's survival and the treatment itself would be inhumane.¹ Two articles published this year update previously reported experience from centers with a long-standing interest in spina bifida. Charney et al. have validated the concept that . . .