Journal
PEDIATRICS
Volume 121, Issue 6, Pages 1106-1110Publisher
AMER ACAD PEDIATRICS
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-1869
Keywords
ethics; neonatal resuscitation; trisomy 18
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine the attitude of neonatal providers toward delivery room resuscitation of an infant with confirmed trisomy 18 with known congenital heart disease at >= 36 weeks of gestation. METHODS. A multiple-choice questionnaire listing this clinical scenario was completed by neonatologists and fellows staffing level III NICUs. Potential factors influencing the decision to initiate resuscitation included maternal preference, neonatal condition at birth, obstetric care, and legal concerns. RESULTS. Fifty-four (76%) of 71 surveys were completed. Of respondents, 44% indicated that they would be willing to initiate resuscitation. Maternal preference (70%) was the primary reason to initiate resuscitation, with the appearance of the neonate in the delivery room (46%) and legal concerns (25%) as additional factors. CONCLUSIONS. Until recently, there was universal consensus that trisomy 18 was a lethal anomaly for which resuscitation in the delivery room was not indicated. These data indicate that more providers (44%) than anticipated would consider initiation of resuscitation for an infant with trisomy 18 even with congenital heart disease. We speculate that support for the best-interest standard for neonates is diminishing in favor of ceding without question to parental autonomy. This shift may have profound implications for ethical decisions in the NICU.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available