Page "Anencephaly" Paragraph 1

In almost all cases, anencephalic infants are not aggressively resuscitated because there is no chance of the infant ever achieving a conscious existence.

Instead, the usual clinical practice is to offer hydration, nutrition, and comfort measures and to " let nature take its course ".

Artificial ventilation, surgery ( to fix any co-existing congenital defects ), and drug therapy ( such as antibiotics ) are usually regarded as futile efforts.

Some clinicians and medical ethicists view even the provision of nutrition and hydration as medically futile.