Early human development
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Early human development · Dec 2005
Withholding treatment, withdrawing treatment, and palliative care in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Advances in pharmacology and technology have sharply reduced mortality of extremely preterm infants at the expense of an increasing number of survivors with handicaps and disabilities. The EURONIC study among neonatal intensive care units across Europe demonstrates that treatment of infants born at the limits of viability raises challenging ethical, moral, legal, and emotional dilemmas among neonatologists, nurses, and parents alike. ⋯ Perinatal audit and after-care of the family complete the process. The Dutch viewpoint and practice guidelines on withholding and withdrawing of neonatal intensive care are presented.