Bioethics for Neonatal Cardiac Care.

Abstract

Clinicians caring for neonates with congenital heart disease encounter challenges with ethical implications in daily practice and must have some basic fluency in ethical principles and practical applications. Good ethical practice begins with a thorough understanding of the details and narrative of each individual case, examination via classic principles of bioethics, and further framing of that translation into practice. We explore some of these issues and expand awareness through the lens of a case presentation beginning with fetal considerations through end-of-life discussions. We include specific sections that bring attention to shared decision-making, research ethics, and outcomes reporting. We review empirical evidence and highlight recommendations.