Fetal palliative care.
Efforts in advance palliative care planning for the fetus at risk of dying are as meaningful and should be as clinically and socially acceptable as the provision of continued life-extending endeavors. The diagnosis of a fetus at risk of dying because of a lethal anomaly or prematurity is a monumental moment in a family's life. It requires not only extensive team counseling about complex neonatal and obstetric medical management but also acknowledgment, counseling, and support of complex mental health, ethical, spiritual issues. To participate in the care of these families during a tremendously personal time is sad but also rewarding personally and professionally.
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Study of Bioethics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. leuthner@mcw.edu
Steven R
SR
Leuthner
D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010166:Palliative Care; D010327:Pastoral Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life