Consultation of parents and healthcare professionals in end-of-life decision-making for neonates and infants: a population-level mortality follow-back physician survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

End-of-life decisions with potential life-shortening effect in neonates and infants are common. We aimed to evaluate how often and in what manner neonatologists consult with parents and other healthcare providers in these cases, and whether consultation is dependent on the type of end-of-life decision made.

Methods

Based on all deaths under the age of one that occurred between September 2016 and December 2017 in Flanders, Belgium, a nationwide mortality follow-back survey was performed. The survey asked about different types of end-of-life decisions, and whether and why parents and/or other healthcare providers had or had not been consulted.

Results

Response rate was 83% of the total population. End-of-life decisions in neonates and infants were consulted b

SUBMITTER: Dombrecht L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9561315 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature