Tracheotomy and children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1: Ethical considerations in the French context

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 is a genetic neuromuscular disease in children that leads to degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons. This sometimes results in severe muscular paralysis requiring mechanical ventilation to sustain the child’s life. The onset of SMA type 1, the most severe form...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Authors: Rul, Brigitte (Author) ; Carnevale, Franco (Author) ; Estournet, Brigitte (Author) ; Rudler, Michèle (Author) ; Hervé, Christian (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Sage 2012
In: Nursing ethics
Year: 2012, Volume: 19, Issue: 3, Pages: 408-418
Further subjects:B Disability
B Ethics
B invasive ventilatory support
B tracheotomy
B Spinal muscular atrophy type 1
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 is a genetic neuromuscular disease in children that leads to degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons. This sometimes results in severe muscular paralysis requiring mechanical ventilation to sustain the child’s life. The onset of SMA type 1, the most severe form of the disease, is during the first year of life. These children become severely paralysed, but retain their intellectual capacity. Ethical concerns arise when mechanical ventilation becomes necessary for survival. When professionals assess the resulting life for the child and family, they sometimes fear it will result in unreasonably excessive care. The aim of this article is to present an analysis of ethical arguments that could support or oppose the provision of invasive ventilation in this population. This examination is particularly relevant as France is one of the few countries performing tracheotomies and mechanical ventilation for this condition.
ISSN:1477-0989
Contains:Enthalten in: Nursing ethics
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0969733011429014