Early Childhood Special Educators and the Hospital Ethics Committee

WITH THE advent of PL 99‐457, in the United States, early childhood special educators may be expected to observe and/or serve on Hospital Ethics Committees in order to assist families better who have seriously ill and handicapped infants in the neonatal intensive care units. To fulfil provisions of the new legislation, the educator needs to be aware of some of the issues that could be considered by the Committees. These issues could include alternative viewpoints on infant euthanasia and the right to life, the provisions of current child abuse legislation, and possible effects on families. This article discusses these concerns and suggests some guidelines which may assist in the training of early childhood special educators for such responsibilities.