Ethical decision-making regarding infant viability: A discussion

Kelly, Janet; Welch, Emma

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2016. Background: There are no universally agreed rules of healthcare ethics. Ethical decisions and standards tend to be linked to professional codes of practice when dealing with complex issues. Objectives: This paper aims to explore the ethical complexities on who should decide to give infants born on the borderline of viability lifesaving treatment, parents or the healthcare professionals. Method: The paper is a discussion using the principles of ethics, professional codes of practice from the UK, Nursing Midwifery Council and UK legal case law and statute. Healthcare professionals' experiences that influence parental decision are also considered. Findings & Discussion: There are considerable barriers to an effective discussion taking place in an environment where clinical decisions have to be made quickly once the baby is born. This is compounded by the need and respect for parental autonomy and the difficulties they face when making a best interest's decision knowing that this could cause more harm than good for their infant child and balancing any decision they make with quality of life. Conclusion: On deciding whether to give lifesaving treatment born at the borderline of viability, it should be a joint decision between the parents and the neonatal team.

Citation

Kelly, J., & Welch, E. (2018). Ethical decision-making regarding infant viability: A discussion. Nursing Ethics, 25(7), 897-905. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733016677869

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 29, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Dec 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Nov 11, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 28, 2016
• Journal: Nursing ethics
• Print ISSN: 0969-7330
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 897-905
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733016677869
• Keywords: Borderline of viability; Decision-making; Ethics; Neonate
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/445045
• Publisher URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0969733016677869
• Additional Information: This is the author's accepted manuscript of an article accepted for publication in: Nursing ethics.
• Contract Date: Nov 11, 2016