title: Supporting bereaved parents: practical steps in providing compassionate perinatal and neonatal end-of-life care. A North American perspective.
abstract: Providing compassionate bereavement support challenges care-givers in perinatal medicine. A practical and consistent approach tailored to individual families may increase the care-giver's ability to relieve parental grief. This approach includes: (1) clear and consistent communication compassionately delivered; (2) shared decision-making; (3) physical and emotional support; and (4) follow-up medical, psychological and social care. Challenges to providing comprehensive end-of-life care include care-giver comfort, consistency of care, cultural and legal barriers, and lack of adequate training.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Munson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zupancic
authors.forename: Haresh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirpalani
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001601:Bereavement; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D004645:Empathy; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D010166:Palliative Care; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010358:Patient Participation; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012944:Social Support; D035502:Trust