A child born before the usual due date: should he be treated or left to die?
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Fatwa number ( 18139 )
Q: There is a medical consensus that a child born before 24 weeks of pregnancy, or weighing less than 500 grams (half a kilo), is considered an abortion. With the advancement of medicine, it has been found that in rare cases, this child may be born during that period, and the heartbeat may still be present. Medical intervention through mechanical ventilation may enable—by the permission of Allah—extending the newborn's life, and in very rare cases, the child may survive, but with mental and physical disabilities. This requires intensive treatment in the intensive care unit, which may last 4 to 5 months. Despite this, and as a result of medical statistics, it has been agreed upon in the West that any child born before his due date (before 24 weeks) is left to the care of Allah without medical intervention. If Allah wills and the newborn lives, so be it; if not, then good is in what Allah has chosen. The question here is: Should I follow this same medical law, which I am inclined to, due to the medical consensus and due to the impossibility that exists here, as in the West, of leaving the child to the will of Allah after
birth without intervention regarding mechanical ventilation or oxygen or medical intervention? If Allah wills for the child to live, then in this case we complete the path with him; otherwise, we do not.
A: There is no harm in intervening to treat a child born before twenty-four weeks, if the specialized doctor is of the opinion that the intervention will be beneficial; otherwise, there is no need for intervention. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: There is a medical consensus that a child born before 24 weeks of pregnancy, or weighing less than 500 grams (half a kilo), is considered an abortion. With the advancement of medicine, it has been found that in rare cases, this child may be born during that period, and the heartbeat may still be present. Medical intervention through mechanical ventilation may enable—by the permission of Allah—extending the newborn's life, and in very rare cases, the child may survive, but with mental and physical disabilities. This requires intensive treatment in the intensive care unit, which may last 4 to 5 months. Despite this, and as a result of medical statistics, it has been agreed upon in the West that any child born before his due date (before 24 weeks) is left to the care of Allah without medical intervention. If Allah wills and the newborn lives, so be it; if not, then good is in what Allah has chosen. The question here is: Should I follow this same medical law, which I am inclined to, due to the medical consensus and due to the impossibility that exists here, as in the West, of leaving the child to the will of Allah after
birth without intervention regarding mechanical ventilation or oxygen or medical intervention? If Allah wills for the child to live, then in this case we complete the path with him; otherwise, we do not.
A: There is no harm in intervening to treat a child born before twenty-four weeks, if the specialized doctor is of the opinion that the intervention will be beneficial; otherwise, there is no need for intervention. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.