Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Ethical issues in treating infants with very low birth weight

J J Glover1, D A Caniano

  • 1Center for Health Ethics and Law, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA.

Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
|May 12, 2000
PubMed

Insights

This report offers pediatric surgeons an ethical framework for making decisions in the care of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. It addresses surgical choices, life-sustaining treatments, and family involvement in complex ethical dilemmas.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Neonatal Care

Background:

  • Infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) present complex ethical challenges in clinical practice.
  • Decisions regarding surgical interventions, nutrition, and end-of-life care require careful ethical consideration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide pediatric surgeons with an ethical framework and decision-making process.
  • To guide ethical decision-making in the care of VLBW infants.
  • To clarify the role of family and common ethical distinctions in treatment decisions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on ethical frameworks in pediatric surgery.
  • Analysis of common ethical issues in VLBW infant care.
  • Case study illustrating the application of the ethical decision-making process.

Main Results:

  • An ethical framework and process for decision-making are presented.
  • Key ethical issues discussed include surgical intervention, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), bowel transplantation, and end-of-life care.
  • The importance of family involvement and clear understanding of ethical distinctions (e.g., active/passive, withholding/withdrawing) are highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed framework supports ethical decision-making for pediatric surgeons caring for VLBW infants.
  • Consistent application of the framework can improve ethical care and family communication.
  • Ethical clarity is crucial for managing complex neonatal surgical cases.

More Related Videos

Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor (Cerebral Function Monitor) to Neonates05:58

Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor (Cerebral Function Monitor) to Neonates

Published on: September 6, 2017

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Ethical Dilemmas II01:30

Ethical Dilemmas II

Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...