Personalized Decision Making: Practical Recommendations for Antenatal Counseling for Fragile Neonates

Abstract

Emphasis has been placed on engaging parents in processes of shared decision making for delivery room management decisions of critically ill neonates whose outcomes are uncertain and unpredictable. The goal of antenatal consultation should rather be to adapt to parental needs and empower them through a personalized decision-making process. This can be done by acknowledging individuality and diversity while respecting the best interests of neonates. The goal is for parents to feel like they have agency and ability and are good parents, before birth, at birth, and after, either in the NICU or until the death of their child.

Keywords: Antenatal consultation; Ethics; NICU; Personalized decision making limit of viability; Prematurity; Shared decision making palliative care.