Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of Romanian physicians toward
withholding and withdrawing intensive care for infants whose prognosis is very poor.
Methods A survey tool was developed by the authors and completed by participants in the annual
meeting of the Neonatology Association of Romania.
Results The majority of respondents attempt resuscitation of all live-born infants, have
never stopped resuscitation at birth while the infant was still alive, and have never
stopped respiratory support because of poor prognosis. Nearly all respondents were
uncomfortable talking with parents about withholding or withdrawing intensive care,
and they were also uncomfortable talking to the parents about the death of their infant.
Conclusions Romanian physicians are uniformly reluctant to withhold or withdraw intensive care
for infants, even those with very poor prognosis. In addition, physicians are very
uncomfortable talking with parents about limiting or stopping support and talking
about the death of an infant. Educational programs targeting the communication of
difficult topics with parents have the potential to decrease the discomfort experienced
by physicians in conversing with parents about their child's poor prognosis or death.
Keywords
attitudes - resuscitation - neonatologist - Romania
