Managing complex ethical problems on the neonatal unit

Some neonatal patients, either due to the rarity of their condition or a combination of co-morbidity, can be very difficult to manage. When there are many or conflicting opinions, it can add to the difficulty of decision-making. The key ethical point is to determine what treatment choices lead to the best overall benefit (‘best interests’) to the infant. This article demonstrates a structured approach to managing complex problems on the neonatal unit. It also includes an example of an ethical framework, which can be used to help resolve difficult ethical problems.