STUDY SHOWS DOCTORS UNDERESTIMATE SURVIVABILITY (ILLINOIS)
by Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
May 4, 2000

Chicago, Illinois --A newly released study by a research team at the
University of
Alabama found that premature babies may not get proper care because doctors
tend to underestimate their chances of survival and overestimate their
chances of having a disability.

Researchers asked pediatricians and obstetricians about their beliefs
regarding preemies, and what procedures they recommended for such infants.

The results, which were published in the May issue of "Pediatrics", showed
that obstetricians thought only 58 percent of preemies delivered at 28 weeks
survived, and pediatricians estimated the number at 68 percent. The actual
survival rate for a baby delivered at 28 weeks is 84 percent.

The percentage of babies delivered at 28 weeks who do not have a
developmental or physical disability is 89 percent. But, obstetricians
surveyed thought it was only 58 percent, and pediatricians estimated 54
percent.

As a consequence, some obstetricians tend to hold off on performing
Caesarean sections for distress in infants between 23 and 25 weeks, and
pediatricians tend to avoid using respirators for infants between 23 and 27
weeks.

Throughout history, infants with disabilities have had medical treatment,
food, warmth and other necessities withheld from them. This study would
support the assertion by disability rights advocates that medical
professionals still discriminate against people with disabilities, whether
they intend to do so or not.

A brief article on the study ran in Tuesday's Chicago Sun Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/health/prem02.html

An abstract and full text of the study are available from the journal
"Pediatrics":
http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/105/5/1046

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Dave Reynolds, Editor
Inclusion Daily Express
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