title: Ethical implications of newborn screening, life-limiting conditions, and palliative care.
abstract: While the first few days of an infant's life usually involve incorporation into a joyous family, this period can also be fraught with conditions that affect and potentially threaten survival. This article explores the ethical components of neonatal conditions such as disorders of sex development and metabolic disorders. Ethical issues surrounding futility, requests for unwarranted care, palliative care, and neonatal hospice are also discussed. Helping parents through the grief process and ensuring that they are provided opportunities to participate in important decisions for their neonate are key components of the nursing role. Implications for clinical practice are provided in the form of a case study and practical suggestions for assisting parents through these difficult situations.
authors.affiliation: Tanya Sudia-Robinson is a Professor at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University where she teaches ethics and research courses in the doctoral program. She can be reached via e-mail at Robinson_ts@mercer.edu.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sudia-Robinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000941:ethics*; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000941:ethics*; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000941:ethics*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics*