Brain-dead Czech woman gives birth after 117 days
by Michael Cook | 7 Sep 2019 |
A Czech woman has given birth 117 days after brain death. Doctors at Brno University Hospital kept the woman alive for 17 weeks so that they could save her child. A healthy girl was delivered on August 15 by Caesarean section.
The 27-year old unnamed woman was in her 16th week of pregnancy when she was found unconscious, apparently after an epileptic fit. Shortly thereafter she was declared brain dead.
According to the hospital, this pregnancy may have set a record as the longest for a brain-dead mother. About 20 similar cases have been recorded.
After the delivery, with her husband and other family members present, the doctors disconnected the mother’s life support systems and allowed her to die.
“This has really been an extraordinary case when the whole family stood together ... without their support and their interest it would never have finished this way,” Dr Pavel Ventruba, head of gynaecology and obstetrics at the hospital, told the media.
Michael Cook is editor of BioEdge
Below is an article about a 73-year-old Indian woman who has just given birth to twin boys. This is a story which used to fly onto the front page, but is now a bit ho-hum. To stir media interest, we need to break through the next barrier. “Centenarian gives birth to twins, say Indian doctors” – now that would be newsworthy, I think. At least the first centenarian would.
The ho-hum factor may account for the fact that few questions were raised about obvious ethical issues involved in septuagenarians giving birth.
First of all, it is obviously reinforcing a sexist stereotype – that a woman is useless unless she has children. Furthermore, despite reassuring words from the doctors, it is a serious risk to the mother’s health.
Second, the children of a 73-year-old mother will soon be orphans. In fact, their father had a stroke on the day after they were born. No one seems to be thinking about their welfare and their future. They are just status symbols for their parents and the doctors.
Why did the doctors cooperate? For the money? For the fame? It strikes me as completely unethical.
The ho-hum factor may account for the fact that few questions were raised about obvious ethical issues involved in septuagenarians giving birth.
First of all, it is obviously reinforcing a sexist stereotype – that a woman is useless unless she has children. Furthermore, despite reassuring words from the doctors, it is a serious risk to the mother’s health.
Second, the children of a 73-year-old mother will soon be orphans. In fact, their father had a stroke on the day after they were born. No one seems to be thinking about their welfare and their future. They are just status symbols for their parents and the doctors.
Why did the doctors cooperate? For the money? For the fame? It strikes me as completely unethical.
 Michael Cook Editor BioEdge |  |  |  |
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