Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectives
End-of-life decisions are usually required when a neonate is at high risk of disability or death, and such decisions involve many legal and ethical challenges. This article reviewed the processes of ethical decision-making for severely ill or terminal neonates, considering controversial issues inclu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jmehm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jmehm/article/view/683 |
| _version_ | 1819293136041541632 |
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| author | Madjid Soltani Gerdfaramarzi Shabnam Bazmi |
| author_facet | Madjid Soltani Gerdfaramarzi Shabnam Bazmi |
| author_sort | Madjid Soltani Gerdfaramarzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | End-of-life decisions are usually required when a neonate is at high risk of disability or death, and such decisions involve many legal and ethical challenges. This article reviewed the processes of ethical decision-making for severely ill or terminal neonates, considering controversial issues including the followings: (i) identifying primary decision makers, (ii) the role of law and guidelines, and (iii) changes in treatment controversy, law and regulations over twenty years in several European countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain. This review study conducted on accessible articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus databases. Based on two studies in 2016 and 1996, neonatologists reported that withholding intensive care, withdrawing mechanical ventilation or life-saving drugs, and involvement of parents in decision-makings have become more acceptable as time passes, indicative of trend change. Trend of physicians on how end the life of neonates, at risk of death, varies in different countries, and cultural factors, parents’ involvement in decisions and gestational age are factors considered in end-of-life decision-making. Future investigations continuously need to identify upcoming ethical aspects of proper decision-making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:05:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5548fec8e32f428ea2435381eb189ba1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-0387 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:05:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Tehran University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-5548fec8e32f428ea2435381eb189ba12022-12-21T17:16:12ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesJournal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine2008-03872020-12-011310.18502/jmehm.v13i19.4827Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectivesMadjid Soltani Gerdfaramarzi0Shabnam Bazmi1PhD Candidate of Medical Ethics, Medical Ethics Department, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Associate professor, Medical Ethics Department, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.End-of-life decisions are usually required when a neonate is at high risk of disability or death, and such decisions involve many legal and ethical challenges. This article reviewed the processes of ethical decision-making for severely ill or terminal neonates, considering controversial issues including the followings: (i) identifying primary decision makers, (ii) the role of law and guidelines, and (iii) changes in treatment controversy, law and regulations over twenty years in several European countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain. This review study conducted on accessible articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus databases. Based on two studies in 2016 and 1996, neonatologists reported that withholding intensive care, withdrawing mechanical ventilation or life-saving drugs, and involvement of parents in decision-makings have become more acceptable as time passes, indicative of trend change. Trend of physicians on how end the life of neonates, at risk of death, varies in different countries, and cultural factors, parents’ involvement in decisions and gestational age are factors considered in end-of-life decision-making. Future investigations continuously need to identify upcoming ethical aspects of proper decision-making.https://jmehm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jmehm/article/view/683Ethics; Neonatal intensive care; End-of-life; Decision-making; Law. |
| spellingShingle | Madjid Soltani Gerdfaramarzi Shabnam Bazmi Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectives Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine Ethics; Neonatal intensive care; End-of-life; Decision-making; Law. |
| title | Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectives |
| title_full | Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectives |
| title_short | Neonatal end-of-life decisions and ethical perspectives |
| title_sort | neonatal end of life decisions and ethical perspectives |
| topic | Ethics; Neonatal intensive care; End-of-life; Decision-making; Law. |
| url | https://jmehm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jmehm/article/view/683 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT madjidsoltanigerdfaramarzi neonatalendoflifedecisionsandethicalperspectives AT shabnambazmi neonatalendoflifedecisionsandethicalperspectives |