Perinatal palliative care following prenatal diagnosis of severe fetal anomaly: a new family-centered approach in a level III Portuguese hospital
Abstract
PNPC is also an integral part of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) in Obstetrics and Neonatology. Since 1997, there are more than 300 programs described, tailored to the newborn’s best interest.
Up to now, providers often feel difficulties in the implementation of PNPC programs, given the lack of evidence-based quantitative empirical studies that are necessary to establish the best model of care. Obstacles to palliative care include diagnostic and prognostic uncertainty and logistic obstacles related to interdisciplinary collaboration. Literature also suggests a great discrepancy involving end-of-life decisions between different countries.
This paper presents an overview of the first PNPC program implemented in a level III Portuguese neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with two case studies providing a distinctive perspective on the support and care needed. It also seeks to serve as a resource for other institutions since there are no well-established and published guidelines regarding PNPC in Portugal. It is also important to include obstetric residents, midwives, medical students and nursing students in the provision of palliative care so this model of care can be incorporated into future practices.
Keywords
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