Parental voices in the sea of neonatal ethical dilemmas.

ABSTRACT

Ethical debate in neonatal intensive care centers around the lower limits of viability, the use of multiple invasive procedures, and the role of paternalism. The parents' perspective has been addressed infrequently. This report will focus on the parents' statements as obtained through predischarge in-depth interviews with 32 families, each with a high-risk infant(s). Discussion will include a summary of the range of parental perceptions during two major periods of time preadmission to the NICU and the NICU experience itself. Some possible nursing implications will be drawn that reflect a sensitive response to these parental perceptions.