Neonatal anaesthetics

DOCUMENTARY   |   IN DEVELOPMENT

Until the late 1980s, infants worldwide underwent surgery without anesthesia, based on the mistaken belief that they couldn’t feel pain. This film traces the story of a young British doctor whose groundbreaking research challenged this misconception, reshaping neonatal care and revealing that infants feel pain acutely.

Recent studies show that early pain experiences can have profound, long-term effects on nervous system development, responsiveness, and cognitive growth. As a survivor of this practice and a father, I delve into the science and history of neonatal pain to explore the resilience required to advance medical understanding and the human cost tied to progress in science and awareness.