Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why does the idea of quality of life create ethical debates about life-sustaining treatment for severely disabled infants?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Marble portrait bust of Hippocrates atop a tall rectangular base inscribed with an epigram in Greek, displayed against a black background. — Bioethics A Roman bust of Hippocrates, copied from a Greek original, c. 3rd century bce; in the collection of the Antichità di Ostia, Italy.

In bioethics, the concept of quality of life creates significant ethical debate regarding life-sustaining treatment for severely disabled infants because it challenges the traditional doctrine of the sanctity of human life.12

While some argue that all human life is inherently worthy of protection regardless of its characteristics, others contend that the quality of a patient’s life is a more relevant basis for medical decision-making than the mere availability of life-prolonging technology. This debate arises because modern medical science can now sustain the lives of infants who previously would not have survived, forcing pediatricians and families to weigh the potential for suffering against the obligation to preserve life.12

Critics of using quality-of-life assessments often express concern that such judgments could lead to a slippery slope, potentially devaluing the lives of those deemed socially undesirable. Conversely, proponents argue that when a patient’s own wishes cannot be ascertained, assessing the quality of their life is a compassionate and necessary approach to avoid imposing extraordinary, invasive measures that offer no meaningful benefit. Ultimately, this issue remains a central, unresolved tension within medical ethics.12