Décision de fin de vie dans un service de réanimation néonatale : pratiques et vécu des soignants

This paper presents the results of a qualitative survey conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit to study the practices and attitudes of the staff about ethical decision making processes. We reviewed also the charts of all newborns who died in our hospital in the last past decade after an end-of-life decision. Diagnosis included the most frequently encephalopathy after perinatal asphyxia or severe cerebral parenchymal bleeding in preterm babies. The questionnaire was returned by 24 nurses and 17 physicians and more than a half would like a team discussion to take place to establish medical criteria assessment and provide clear advice to parents.