Abstract

CARVALHO, Carmen; FREITAS, Ana Cristina; PINHO, Liliana  and  NOVO, Ana. Shared decisions in neonatal intensive care − bioethical approach. Nascer e Crescer [online]. 2021, vol.30, n.1, pp.39-43.  Epub Jan 31, 2021. ISSN 0872-0754.  https://doi.org/10.25753/birthgrowthmj.v30.i1.20315.

Technological and therapeutic advances in neonatal intensive care have led to a decrease in neonatal morbidity and mortality in recent decades. Along with technical and scientific expertise, it is important to provide a holistic and comprehensive approach to the care of the newborn and family. The purpose of this review is to describe and analyze strategies to improve decision-making within a shared process between health professionals and caregivers at neonatal intensive care setting.

The decision-making process is not linear or immutable over time and there is no consensus on the definition of ‘shared decision’. More unanimous is the role of communication as a atherapeutic relationship pillar. Professional ethics, bioethics, and narrative medicine should be used as tools to address the vulnerabilities of families and professionals and as a way to consolidate and structure the human relational dimension intrinsic to medical practice.

Keywords : bioethics; decision-making; narrative medicine; neonatal intensive care; newborn.

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