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Ethical issues in perinatal communication
F Turchiano1, A Romiti2, R Tudisco2
1Obstetrics and Obstetrical Pathology Unit, Department of Women's and Child Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. fra.turchiano@gmail.com.
Insights
Effective communication and standardized frameworks are crucial in perinatal care. This approach supports parents facing difficult decisions regarding critical fetal conditions and enhances neonatal critical care outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal critical care
- Perinatal medicine
- Bioethics
Background:
- Perinatal care involves complex ethical issues arising from life-limiting or life-threatening fetal and neonatal conditions.
- Diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment decisions significantly impact families during prenatal and postnatal phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the need for a structured framework in perinatal care.
- To highlight the critical role of communication in addressing bioethical challenges.
- To recommend standardized counseling for critical fetal conditions.
Main Methods:
- This is a review article.
- Focuses on communication strategies in perinatal care.
- Examines ethical considerations in neonatal critical care.
Main Results:
- Effective communication is paramount in perinatal critical scenarios.
- Standardized frameworks are necessary for healthcare providers.
- Perinatal palliative care integration is vital for fetuses with limited life expectancy.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers must utilize effective communication and standardized frameworks.
- Integrating perinatal palliative care is essential in referral centers.
- Structured communication supports parental decision-making in critical perinatal situations.
Abstract:
Advancements in neonatal critical care continue, enhancing perinatal communication is essential to address the bioethical challenges faced. In perinatal care, various life-limiting or life-threatening conditions that address ethical issues can arise, both during the prenatal and postnatal phases. The diagnosis, prognosis, and potential treatment of these conditions significantly influence the lives of both the unborn child and the newborn, thereby directly impacting parental choices and experiences. This review arises from the necessity to highlight the importance of developing a structured framework concerning the critical components of perinatal care, with a specific focus on the pivotal role of communication. A standardized approach is recommended for counseling at the time of diagnosis of critical fetal conditions, to care for the couple and to support their decision making.
Conclusions:
In perinatal critical clinical scenarios, it is imperative that healthcare providers communicate to parents using effective communication strategies, with standardized frameworks. Moreover, integrating perinatal palliative care into the treatment pathway for fetuses with limited life expectancy is essential, within referral centers.
What Is Known:
• In perinatal care, different life-limiting or life-threatening conditions that address ethical issues can arise, both during the prenatal and postnatal phases. • The diagnosis, prognosis, and potential treatment of critical fetal and postnatal conditions significantly affect the lives of the child and parents.
What Is New:
• Communication has a pivotal role concerning the critical components of perinatal care. • A standardized approach is recommended for counseling at the time of diagnosis of critical fetal conditions, to care for the couple and to support their decision making.
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