Life and death decisions about babies' treatment.
Withdrawing and withholding treatment is an emotive issue, especially when it relates to babies. This paper describes a study exploring the perceptions of doctors, nurses and midwives involved in such decisions. It found that nurses and midwives were reluctant to express their opinions. This resulted in practices and decisions with which they were not always in total agreement. Recommendations have been made for better preparation in ethical reasoning, improved communication and team effort.
McHaffie
H
H
Department of Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
Fowlie
P
P
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians; D016079:Refusal to Treat