Below is a news release on a policy statement appearing in the February issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of this report, please contact the AAP Department of Communications.

For Release: February 5, 2007, 12:01 am (ET)

CHICAGO - Parents and health care professionals often struggle with difficult treatment options when faced with the care of a severely or terminally ill infant. A new AAP Policy Statement, “Noninitiation or Withdrawal of Intensive Care for High-Risk Newborns,” states that decisions regarding treatment for infants with poor prognosis should be made jointly with the physicians and the infant’s family and should always be in the best interest of the infant. The decision to initiate or continue intensive care should be based on the probability that the infant will benefit from the care, and the parents should be fully informed and active participants in the decision-making process.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.