Ethical dilemmas and countermeasures in extreme prematurity at the limit of viability / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Improved life-supporting technology in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has increased the survival rate of the most extremely preterm infants. However, those who survived are at high risk of developing long-term neurodevelopmental adverse outcomes. The implementation and continuation of intensive care may itself constitute the most challenging ethical dilemma faced by NICU professionals. This paper discusses the main ethical dilemmas in the rescue of the most extremely preterm infants and investigates currently feasible countermeasures to provide a reference for NICU professionals.