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- Cuttini, M, et al.
(författare)
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End-of-life decisions in neonatal intensive care : physicians' selfreported practices in seven European countries
- 2000
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Ingår i: The Lancet. - London. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 355:9221, s. 2112-2118
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThe ethical issue of foregoing life-sustaining treatment for newborn infants at high risk of death or severe disability is extensively debated, but there is little information on how physicians in different countries actually confront this issue to reach end-of-life decisions. The EURONIC project aimed to investigate practices as reported by physicians themselves.MethodsThe study recruited a large, representative sample of 122 neonatal intensive-care units (NICUs) by census (in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden) or stratified random sampling (in France, Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain) with an overall response rate of 86%. Physicians' practices of end-of-life decision-making were investigated through an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. 1235 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate 89%).FindingsIn all countries, most physicians reported having been involved at least once in setting limits to intensive care because of incurable conditions (61–96%); smaller proportions reported such involvement because of a baby's poor neurological prognosis (46–90%). Practices such as continuation of current treatment without intensification and withholding of emergency manoeuvres were widespread, but withdrawal of mechanical ventilation was reported by variable proportions (28–90%). Only in France (73%) and the Netherlands (47%) was the administration of drugs with the aim of ending life reported with substantial frequency. Age, length of professional experience, and the importance of religion in the physician's life affected the likelihood of reporting of non-treatment decisions.InterpretationA vast majority of neonatologists in European NICUs have been involved in end-of-life limitation of treatments, but type of decision-making varies among countries. Cultur-related and other country-specific factors are more relevant than characteristics of individual physicians or units in explaining such variability.
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- Cuttini, M., et al.
(författare)
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Should euthanasia be legal? An international survey of neonatal intensive care units staff
- 2004
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Ingår i: Archives of Disease in Childhood. - 0003-9888 .- 1468-2044. ; 89:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To present the views of a representative sample of neonatal doctors and nurses in 10 European countries on the moral acceptability of active euthanasia and its legal regulation. Design: A total of 142 neonatal intensive care units were recruited by census (in the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, and the Baltic countries) or random sampling (in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), 1391 doctors and 3410 nurses completed an anonymous questionnaire (response rates 89% and 86% respectively). Main outcome measure: The staff opinion that the law in their country should be changed to allow active euthanasia "more than now". Results: Active euthanasia appeared to be both acceptable and practiced in the Netherlands, France, and to a lesser extent Lithuania, and less acceptable in Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Spain. More then half (53%) of the doctors in the Netherlands, but only a quarter (24%) in France felt that the law should be changed to allow active euthanasia "more than now". For 40% of French doctors, end of life issues should not be regulated by law. Being male, regular involvement in research, less than six years professional experience, and having ever participated in a decision of active euthanasia were positively associated with an opinion favouring relaxation of legal constraints. Having had children, religiousness, and believing in the absolute value of human life showed a negative association. Nurses were slightly more likely to consider active euthanasia acceptable in selected circumstances, and to feel that the law should be changed to allow it more than now. Conclusions: Opinions of health professionals vary widely between countries, and, even where neonatal euthanasia is already practiced, do not uniformly support its legalisation.
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- Habiba, M, et al.
(författare)
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Caesarean section on request: a comparison of obstetricians' attitudes in eight European countries
- 2006
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Ingår i: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. - : Wiley. - 1471-0528 .- 1470-0328. ; 113:6, s. 647-656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To explore the attitudes of obstetricians to performe a caesarean section on maternal request in the absence of medical indication. Design Cluster sampling cross-sectional survey. Setting Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) associated maternity units in eight European countries. Population Obstetricians with at least 6 months clinical experience. Methods NICU-associated maternity units were chosen by census in Luxembourg, Netherlands and Sweden and by geographically stratified random sampling in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Main outcome measures Obstetricians' willingness to perform a caesarean section on maternal request. Results One hundred and five units and 1530 obstetricians participated in the study (response rates of 70 and 77%,respectively). Compliance with a hypothetical woman's request for elective caesarean section simply because it was 'her choice' was lowest in Spain (15%), France (19%) and Netherlands (22%); highest in Germany (75%) and UK (79%) and intermediate in the remaining countries. Using weighted multivariate logistic regression, country of practice (P < 0.001), fear of litigation (P = 0.004) and working in a university-affiliated hospital (P = 0.001) were associated with physicians' likelihood to agree to patient's request. The subset of female doctors with children was less likely to agree (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.20-0.42). Conclusions The differences in obstetricians' attitudes are not founded on concrete medical evidence. Cultural factors, legal liability and variables linked to the specific perinatal care organisation of the various countries play a role. Greater emphasis should be placed on understanding the motivation, values and fears underlying a woman's request for elective caesarean delivery.
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- Bonamy, AKE, et al.
(författare)
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Wide variation in severe neonatal morbidity among very preterm infants in European regions
- 2019
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Ingår i: Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition. - : BMJ. - 1468-2052 .- 1359-2998. ; 104:1, s. F36-F45
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To investigate the variation in severe neonatal morbidity among very preterm (VPT) infants across European regions and whether morbidity rates are higher in regions with low compared with high mortality rates.DesignArea-based cohort study of all births before 32 weeks of gestational age.Setting16 regions in 11 European countries in 2011/2012.PatientsSurvivors to discharge from neonatal care (n=6422).Main outcome measuresSevere neonatal morbidity was defined as intraventricular haemorrhage grades III and IV, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, surgical necrotizing enterocolitis and retinopathy of prematurity grades ≥3. A secondary outcome included severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), data available in 14 regions. Common definitions for neonatal morbidities were established before data abstraction from medical records. Regional severe neonatal morbidity rates were correlated with regional in-hospital mortality rates for live births after adjustment on maternal and neonatal characteristics.Results10.6% of survivors had a severe neonatal morbidity without severe BPD (regional range 6.4%–23.5%) and 13.8% including severe BPD (regional range 10.0%–23.5%). Adjusted inhospital mortality was 13.7% (regional range 8.4%–18.8%). Differences between regions remained significant after consideration of maternal and neonatal characteristics (P<0.001) and severe neonatal morbidity rates were not correlated with mortality rates (P=0.50).ConclusionSevere neonatal morbidity rates for VPT survivors varied widely across European regions and were independent of mortality rates.
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