Panorama

Salvaging Babies (1994x22)

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"If the baby comes out and looks a 'goer', we will try for it" says a doctor to a woman who is 22 weeks pregnant and starting contractions. In tonight's programme, Salvaging Babies, Sarah Barclay examines whether it is miraculous or madness to try to save babies born so prematurely that they fall within the legal limit for abortion. She talks to those doctors who argue that too many of those who survive are likely to be seriously damaged and also to the parents of a premature baby who died because it was not hospital policy to try to save babies under 24 weeks.