Ethical decision making in neonatal units--the normative significance of vitality
Title
Ethical decision making in neonatal units--the normative significance of vitality
Creator
Brinchmann BS; Nortvedt P
Identifier
Publisher
Medicine, Health Care & Philosophy
Date
2001
Subject
Decision Making; Ethics Medical; Euthanasia/px [Psychology]; Infant Premature; Intensive Care Neonatal/st [Standards]; Female; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant Newborn; Infant Premature Diseases; Male; Medical Futility; Norway; Parents/px [Psychology]; Physician's Role; Qualitative Research
Description
This article will be concerned with the phenomenon of vitality, which emerged as one of the main findings in a larger grounded theory study about life and death decisions in hospitals' neonatal units. Definite signs showing the new-born infant's energy and vigour contributed to the clinician's judgements about life expectancy and the continuation or termination of medical treatment. In this paper we will discuss the normative importance of vitality as a diagnostic cue and will argue that vitality, as a sign perceived by doctors and nurses, has moral significance and represents a legitimate contribution to clinical decision-making in difficult cases where the child's life is at stake. We will argue that these clinical intuitions can be justified on a moral basis but only with certain qualifications that accounts for a certain objectivity and intersubjective reliability in the therapeutic judgements.
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Citation List Month
January 2018 List
URL Address
Collection
Citation
Brinchmann BS; Nortvedt P, “Ethical decision making in neonatal units--the normative significance of vitality,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed February 9, 2025, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/11249.