Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and Infants
In this paper, we discuss the foundational values informing the Catholic perspective on decision-making for critically ill newborns and infants, particularly focusing on the prudent use of medical technologies. Although the Church has consistently affirmed the general good of advances in scientific...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/2/207 |
| _version_ | 1797481682035539968 |
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| author | Annie B. Friedrich Jason T. Eberl |
| author_facet | Annie B. Friedrich Jason T. Eberl |
| author_sort | Annie B. Friedrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, we discuss the foundational values informing the Catholic perspective on decision-making for critically ill newborns and infants, particularly focusing on the prudent use of medical technologies. Although the Church has consistently affirmed the general good of advances in scientific research and medicine, the technocratic paradigm of medicine may, particularly in cases with severely ill infants, lead to decision-making conflicts and breakdowns in communication between parents and providers. By exploring two paradigm cases, we offer specific practices in which providers can engage to connect with parents and avoid common technologically mediated decision-making conflicts. By focusing on the inherent relationality of all human persons, regardless of debility, and the Christian hope in the life to come, we can make decisions in the midst of the technocratic paradigm without succumbing to it. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3935552b9cbf4da49520d7ca911747f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-3935552b9cbf4da49520d7ca911747f62023-11-23T19:19:15ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-02-019220710.3390/children9020207Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and InfantsAnnie B. Friedrich0Jason T. Eberl1Bioethics Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USAAlbert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USAIn this paper, we discuss the foundational values informing the Catholic perspective on decision-making for critically ill newborns and infants, particularly focusing on the prudent use of medical technologies. Although the Church has consistently affirmed the general good of advances in scientific research and medicine, the technocratic paradigm of medicine may, particularly in cases with severely ill infants, lead to decision-making conflicts and breakdowns in communication between parents and providers. By exploring two paradigm cases, we offer specific practices in which providers can engage to connect with parents and avoid common technologically mediated decision-making conflicts. By focusing on the inherent relationality of all human persons, regardless of debility, and the Christian hope in the life to come, we can make decisions in the midst of the technocratic paradigm without succumbing to it.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/2/207decision-makingpediatric ethicsCatholicismtechnology |
| spellingShingle | Annie B. Friedrich Jason T. Eberl Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and Infants Children decision-making pediatric ethics Catholicism technology |
| title | Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and Infants |
| title_full | Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and Infants |
| title_fullStr | Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and Infants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and Infants |
| title_short | Catholic Perspective on Decision-Making for Critically Ill Newborns and Infants |
| title_sort | catholic perspective on decision making for critically ill newborns and infants |
| topic | decision-making pediatric ethics Catholicism technology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/2/207 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anniebfriedrich catholicperspectiveondecisionmakingforcriticallyillnewbornsandinfants AT jasonteberl catholicperspectiveondecisionmakingforcriticallyillnewbornsandinfants |