The typical image of the extremely pre-mature baby (say 24-28wks gestation) usually does incite quite a few emotions from people. But my experiences in the NICU, seeing an extremely premature baby supported by many medical devices does make the cynic in me come out and ask, "Is it all worth it?"
Many of these babies require months of intensive medical treatment, and many do not survive much beyond their first few months. While it's true that there certainly are babies out there that have gone through the gamut and are alive and well (in fact, we saw another baby recently who was getting his G-tube removed that had endured just such an experience, and has the multiple scars to prove it...), the exorbitant cost these babies must exact on the healthcare industry should be weighed against the potential benefits.
It's a cold, harsh, cruel world, but in an era where people are sorely lacking high quality medical care in general (supposedly due to limited resources, although I personally feel lack of access and education plays a larger role) - is it fair to a) subject this tiny baby to the trials and tortures of modern medicine for the promise of a "normal" life but odds of achieving that promise measured in fractions of a percent, and b) expend significant amounts of medical resources in a (sometimes vain yet valiant) attempt to achieve that goal of a normal life?
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