Care of critically ill newborns: please do this short General Medical Council survey

What Jojay said.
Hard to contemplate such a thing when you have been lucky enough to have been spared it so far.

Done. God forbid I ever find out what it feels like.

done

Vicky, have answered the questions but the second one is very tricky to answer - what do you mean, fair or unfair? Does the question mean 'is it fair to place the burden of making the decision to end life support onto the parents'?

I think it might be hard to analyse the responses to this question - did you run the questions past any market research agencies first?

Finally, v. impressed you are asking here, good to see attempts to reach thousands of ordinary parents on an issue of such importance.

I worked with the GMC in the past when they were drawing up guidance, as a consumer rep, and I don't remember anyone reaching out to the public in such a way. (Although GMC was doing v. good stuff back then.) Positive development IMO.

what/who would be an "independent advocate" in this sort of situation? Someone with medical or knowledge?

Would you like to post a separate thread for the general guidance? There have been many threads on similar topics on mumsnet.

Personally having seen several people die slowly and painfully I would actually like to see the medical profession able to assist me when I'm ready to go.

But I've also seen a family where some relatives, but thankfully not the mother, would have terminated what seems likely to be a perfectly adequate life.

Done, very difficult, but done!

Vicky from the GMC here. Yes, I agree this is a sensitive subject.

Just to reassure you, the 2 question survey is to start the debate. The GMC will be drafting new guidelines for doctors based on responses to the formal consultation which anyone can take part in online here www.gmc-uk.org/end_of_life_care.

The GMC is consulting with the widest possible group of people including doctors, academics, patients and parents to make sure our guidance is sensible and clear and helps doctors know what to do in the most difficult of situations.

We want to hear from as many people as possible to gain the widest range of opinions.

I had a look at this survey as I wanted to help but I don't think I can answer such a sensitive topic - my heart says one thing and my head says another. Are our opinions going to be used to set/create precedent for this? I know you said above to "inform the debate" but I don't know how influential our responses might be,

I just think its too important to respond to such questions without really thinking about the answer and what consequences they will have.

Just my opinion.

Done.