Ethics and hypothermia treatment.
Hypothermia is the first effective neuroprotective intervention for newborns who are critically ill following a life-threatening asphyxial insult. It is not surprising that it has raised complex and controversial ethical dilemmas for investigators and clinicians. Given the history of iatrogenic disasters in neonatology, there has been an understandable reluctance to incorporate hypothermia into routine clinical practice until there is persuasive evidence from high quality randomised trials. This article reviews ethical issues that arose during the design of the original clinical trials, the implications of accumulating evidence of safety and efficacy, and the problems of ensuring informed parental participation in treatment decisions.
Wyatt
John S
JS
Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, UK. profjwyatt@gmail.com
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods*; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000941:ethics*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000941:ethics*