Medico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative framework
Abstract The term “Lotus Birth” identifies the practice of not cutting the umbilical cord and of leaving the placenta attached to the newborn after its expulsion until it detaches spontaneously, which generally occurs 3–10 days after birth. The first reported cases of Lotus Birth date back to 2004 i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-03-01
|
| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13052-019-0632-z |
| _version_ | 1818296940183420928 |
|---|---|
| author | Alessandro Bonsignore Francesca Buffelli Rosagemma Ciliberti Francesco Ventura Andrea Molinelli Ezio Fulcheri |
| author_facet | Alessandro Bonsignore Francesca Buffelli Rosagemma Ciliberti Francesco Ventura Andrea Molinelli Ezio Fulcheri |
| author_sort | Alessandro Bonsignore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The term “Lotus Birth” identifies the practice of not cutting the umbilical cord and of leaving the placenta attached to the newborn after its expulsion until it detaches spontaneously, which generally occurs 3–10 days after birth. The first reported cases of Lotus Birth date back to 2004 in Australia. Supporters of such a procedure claim that the newborn is better perfused, endowed with a more robust immune system and “less stressed”. However, it should be pointed out that histopathological study of the placenta is increasingly being requested in order to investigate problems of an infective nature or dysmaturity affecting the foetus, and situations of risk affecting the mother. Moreover, from the legal standpoint, there is no uniform position on the question of whether the placenta belongs to the mother or to the newborn. Lastly, a proper conservation of the embryonic adnexa is very difficult and includes problems of a hygiene/health, infectivological and medico-legal nature. The authors analyzed all these aspect in the Italian legislative framework, reaching the conclusion that Lotus Birth is inadvisable from both the scientific and logical/rational points of view. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:11:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b838b3ec8ae45e78c5a9d1abd754c90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1824-7288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:11:31Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b838b3ec8ae45e78c5a9d1abd754c902022-12-22T00:00:03ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882019-03-014511610.1186/s13052-019-0632-zMedico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative frameworkAlessandro Bonsignore0Francesca Buffelli1Rosagemma Ciliberti2Francesco Ventura3Andrea Molinelli4Ezio Fulcheri5Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL) – Section of Legal and Forensic Medicine and Bioethics, University of GenovaPh.D Course in Paediatric Science, Fetal-Perinatal and Paediatric Pathology, University of GenovaDepartment of Health Sciences (DISSAL) – Section of Legal and Forensic Medicine and Bioethics, University of GenovaDepartment of Health Sciences (DISSAL) – Section of Legal and Forensic Medicine and Bioethics, University of GenovaDepartment of Health Sciences (DISSAL) – Section of Legal and Forensic Medicine and Bioethics, University of GenovaFetal and Perinatal Pathology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina GasliniAbstract The term “Lotus Birth” identifies the practice of not cutting the umbilical cord and of leaving the placenta attached to the newborn after its expulsion until it detaches spontaneously, which generally occurs 3–10 days after birth. The first reported cases of Lotus Birth date back to 2004 in Australia. Supporters of such a procedure claim that the newborn is better perfused, endowed with a more robust immune system and “less stressed”. However, it should be pointed out that histopathological study of the placenta is increasingly being requested in order to investigate problems of an infective nature or dysmaturity affecting the foetus, and situations of risk affecting the mother. Moreover, from the legal standpoint, there is no uniform position on the question of whether the placenta belongs to the mother or to the newborn. Lastly, a proper conservation of the embryonic adnexa is very difficult and includes problems of a hygiene/health, infectivological and medico-legal nature. The authors analyzed all these aspect in the Italian legislative framework, reaching the conclusion that Lotus Birth is inadvisable from both the scientific and logical/rational points of view.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13052-019-0632-zLotus birthPlacentaMedico-legal implicationsItalian legislative frameworkHealth safety |
| spellingShingle | Alessandro Bonsignore Francesca Buffelli Rosagemma Ciliberti Francesco Ventura Andrea Molinelli Ezio Fulcheri Medico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative framework Italian Journal of Pediatrics Lotus birth Placenta Medico-legal implications Italian legislative framework Health safety |
| title | Medico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative framework |
| title_full | Medico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative framework |
| title_fullStr | Medico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative framework |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative framework |
| title_short | Medico-legal considerations on “Lotus Birth” in the Italian legislative framework |
| title_sort | medico legal considerations on lotus birth in the italian legislative framework |
| topic | Lotus birth Placenta Medico-legal implications Italian legislative framework Health safety |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13052-019-0632-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alessandrobonsignore medicolegalconsiderationsonlotusbirthintheitalianlegislativeframework AT francescabuffelli medicolegalconsiderationsonlotusbirthintheitalianlegislativeframework AT rosagemmaciliberti medicolegalconsiderationsonlotusbirthintheitalianlegislativeframework AT francescoventura medicolegalconsiderationsonlotusbirthintheitalianlegislativeframework AT andreamolinelli medicolegalconsiderationsonlotusbirthintheitalianlegislativeframework AT eziofulcheri medicolegalconsiderationsonlotusbirthintheitalianlegislativeframework |