Het etiket van de zwangerschapsduur

Recent follow-up data on babies born at > 24 weeks' gestation in the Netherlands has shown encouraging results; these outcomes reflect policy in national guidelines to limit treatment in babies born at < 24 weeks' gestation. The use of gestational age as a cut-off point for active treatment in extremely premature infants is, however, scientifically and ethically questionable. As an alternative we should consider a tailor-made approach by well-informed, ethically trained doctors who feel comfortable with complex decision-making, irrespective of the gestational age label.