This work explores the ethical issues that arise in connection with the viability of infants born at 23-24 weeks of gestation, a threshold that generates complex decisions on the part of families and healthcare professionals. Based on a theoretical framework grounded in medical ethics and the study of preterm births, this research project examines the debate that links both concepts and their implications for clinical practice. To explore these issues in depth, interviews were conducted with physicians, ethics committee members, and family representatives. In addition, a visit to the Neonatal Care Unit of the San Joan de Déu Hospital provided direct observation of actual procedures.

The aim of this work is to contribute to the ongoing conversation about which criteria should guide decision-making when family members and medical professionals disagree about continuing treatment for an extremely premature infant. This work emphasises the need for sensitivity, expertise, and interdisciplinary dialogue, as such questions—spanning science, ethics, and emotion—come to the surface at a crucial and often urgent moment.