Supervisors info:
Ιωάννα Παυλοπούλου Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Ευμορφία Κούκια Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Βενετία- Σοφία Βελονάκη Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
In recent years, neonatology has made significant technological and scientifical advances, resulting in a gradual increase in the survival rate of extremely premature newborns with gestational age <32 weeks. Extremely prematurity poses a serious risk for physical and brain disorders, such as disability. Therefore, the increasing number of surviving premature infants, combined with possible complications due to prematurity, arises ethical dilemmas regarding the decision to apply resuscitation or non-resuscitation in case of cardiorespiratory arrest. Several studies have documented that in international level healthcare professionals often come up with such dilemmas and depending on geographical location, cultural and professional culture, religion, experiences, as well as personal values and beliefs present different practices and opinions regarding the decision to resuscitate extremely premature infants.
In the review of the literature, it is noted that health professionals worldwide often come up with such dilemmas and present different practices and opinions regarding the decision to resuscitate very premature infants, depending on geographical location, cultural and professional culture, religion, experiences, as well as personal values and beliefs.
The fact that opinions and practices differ between hospitals in different countries, even in different hospitals in the same country, has motivated international official bodies to create guidelines in order to have a common and homogenised way of treatment for the extremely premature newborns.
Since the newborn cannot defend his rights and express his personal desire, the best interest of the newborn is called to be defended by his parents as his legal representatives. Therefore, in the decision-making process, it is very important for the parents to be part of it and collaboratively with health professionals, to come up with the best choice of dealing with the situation, considering and respecting the best interests of the newborn. All decisions should be taken on the basis of moral values, current legislation, the dignity and sanctity of life, as well as the quality of life over time.
Keywords:
Decisions in the grey zone, Extremely premature newborns, Prematurity, Bioethics in neonatology, Resuscitation, Attitudes of healthcare professional, Practices
