title: Ethical dilemmas in the care of premature infants.
abstract: Advanced technology has improved the survival rate of infants of low birthweight and gestational age, but at the cost of long periods of hospitalization and unpredictable long-term prognosis. The neonatal clinical nurse specialist (CNS) has a responsibility to assist the staff and family in dealing with the ethical dilemmas that surround these patients. This article will present a brief history of neonatal care and decision making and will address the issues of uncertain outcome, treatment judgment standards, withdrawing vs. withholding aggressive treatment, and economic impact. The role of the CNS in educating and supporting the staff and family to assume a larger part in ethical choices is also discussed.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mellien
mesh_terms: D032921:Consensus; D003657:Decision Making; D028741:Ethics Committees, Clinical; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000592:standards*; D018579:Patient Selection; D040841:Resource Allocation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012380:Role; D035501:Uncertainty; D026712:Value of Life; D028761:Withholding Treatment