ABSTRACT
In the summer of 2017, the Supreme Court of India denied permission to abort a 26-week-old foetus, detected with Down syndrome at 22 weeks, to a family which already had a child with special needs, on the grounds that the 20-week mark specified in The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 had been crossed. An Act well formulated and ahead of its time at inception seems not to have kept pace with technology and to be in need of change. We argue that by denying the abortion the Court did not adhere to the core principle of ethics—respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance, and justice—as the mother was not allowed to decide for herself and was forced to abide by the decision taken by the court.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine success rate and time taken for intubation by pediatric residents/ fellows. Methods: Prospective observational study among neonates requiring endotracheal intubation. Results: 212 attempts and 118 successful intubations were recorded in 153 videos. An average of 1.93 attempts per successful intubation was observed. Success rate at first attempt and mean time taken by first year, second year, third year residents and fellows were 26% and 51.9; 79% and 39.8; 69% and 40.1; and 67% and 31.5 seconds, respectively. Complications were noted in 77 (36%) attempts. 44 (21%) intubations were performed within 30 seconds. Increase in complications was noted with increase in attempt time beyond 40 seconds. Conclusion: Skill improved from first year to second year. Most intubations exceeded 30 second time limit. There is a need to improve training methodology to ensure intubation time by health personnel does not exceed the expected time limit.