Ethical Implications of Cleft Lip and Palate Repair in Patients with Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18.
Richard AppelAndrew E GrushRaghave M UpadhyayaDavid G MannEdward P BuchananPublished in: The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (2023)
A careful balance must be struck between improved quality of life, benefits of treatment, and risks of surgery in children with T13/T18. Careful consideration should be given to the medical status of these complex patients. If the remaining medical comorbidities are well managed and under control, there is an ethical precedent for performing cleft lip and palate surgeries on these children. A diagnosis of T13/T18 alone is not enough to disqualify patients from cleft lip/palate surgery.