Perinatal Palliative Care and Ethical Issues

Abstract

Perinatal palliative care is a specialty that covers the fields of obstetrics, fetal medicine, pediatric palliative medicine and neonatal medicine. In this care, healthcare professionals offer an individualized care plan based on the needs of the fetus/newborn and family members in a multidimensional way with an interdisciplinary team approach. Unlike adult, neonatal and pediatric palliative care, the patient is not only a single person but a mother-fetus couple in perinatal palliative care; therefore this care type is based on family-centered care philosophy. Due to lack of information about preferences or requests of the fetus, families are expected to make the best medical decision for their baby considering their wishes and values. In this respect, it is important for the team members to inform the families during this process and for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to support them for making the most appropriate decision. This review article examined the importance of perinatal palliative care, ethical issues, and the roles and responsibilities of the nurse.