[Ethical dilemmas for end-of-life decisions in the perinatal period].
According to several recent surveys, around 50% of the deaths occurring nowadays in French neonatal intensive care units result from a medical decision. This has led French neonatologists to set up guidelines for end-of-life decisions and practice in the perinatal period, which are presented in this paper. It covers definitions, clinical situations, ethical principles, obligations of the medical and nursing staff.
Ropert
J C
JC
Service de pédiatrie et néonatologie, Centre hospitalier de Courbevoie Neuilly-sur-Seine, 36, boulevard du Général-Leclerc, BP 79, 92205 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. j.ropert@chcn.net
D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards