<p>We often read about the tragic consequences of one-size-fits all government-run healthcare. Yet sometimes a story comes along that has the power to shock even those accustomed to tragedies happening daily. Like a case just reported in Britain where it has emerged that doctors left a premature baby to die because he was born two days earlier than National Health Service guidelines allowed for medical intervention.</p>
<div><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211950/Premature-baby-left-die-doctors-mother-gives-birth-just-days-22-week-care-limit.html">The Daily Mail reports </a>that the Sara Capewell, 23, went into labor in October last year at 21 weeks and four days: <i>“because she had not reached 22 weeks, she was not allowed injections to try to stop the labour, or a steroid injection to help to strengthen her baby’s lungs. Instead, doctors told her to treat the labour as a miscarriage, not a birth, and to expect her baby to be born with serious deformities or even to be still-born.” </i></div>
<div>When he was born, however, he was breathing unaided, had a strong heartbeat and was even moving his arms and legs. The mother called doctors and “<i>begged them to help</i>”, but was refused admittance to a special care baby unit. The Mail further reports that <i>“Medics allegedly told her that they would have tried to save the baby if he had been born two days later, at 22 weeks.”</i> Jayden survived for two hours unaided after birth. Even after his death his mother had to argue with hospital officials for her right to receive birth and death certificates so she could give her son a proper funeral.</div>
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<div>Miss Capewell has had five miscarriages. She said the guidelines had robbed her son of a chance of life.</div>
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<div>In contrast, Amillia Taylor was born in Florida at 21 weeks and six days into her mother’s pregnancy. She celebrated her second birthday last year.</div>