RT Journal
A1 Cole F
T1 COncerning viability and the decubitus positions
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1969
FD April 14
VO 208
IS 2
SP 361
OP 361
DO 10.1001/jama.1969.03160020129025
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1969.03160020129025
AB To the Editor:— 
    A communication by Drs. Allen, Carrera, and Weed (207: 756, 1969) prompts me to these comments.The authors speak of "a viable male infant" who was to live only 56 minutes. Later they state that "the infant should be placed in the left lateral decubitus position.""Viable" means capable of living and this human being's entire life span was less than an hour. If it is argued that the pathology could not be foreseen, I would reply that the word "viable" ought not to have been used"Left lateral decubitus position" (left side up or down?) is an elegant phrase and means on the left side. "On the left side" is plain English, has smaller words and less than half the letters, and is better English when a life is at stake and time is precious.I have little quarrel with "due to," although Fowler requires "owing to,"