Ethical decision making in neonatal intensive care: adaptation of EURONIC research protocol in Greece

Abstract

Purpose of investigation: To address the lack of research regarding the bioethical decision making process in neonatal intensive care in Greece and provide a comparative basis with international research. Materials and Methods: The research protocol of the widely acknowledged European Project on Parents’ Information and Ethical Decision Making in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (EURONIC) was adopted and implemented in order to: a) record clinical practices, b) assess healthcare professionals’ ethics concerns, and c) investigate the clinical, demographic, and cultural factors linked to the bioethical decision making in neonatal intensive care in Greece. Results: The process of cultural adaptation and implementation of the EURONIC research protocol is described while special attention is given to issues of entry to the field, recruitment, and informed consent procedures and ethics approvals as well as 'lessons learned’ which could potentially inform further implementation of similar research. Conclusion: Despite the acknowledged need for relative research, this is the first research protocol for ethical dilemmas in neonatal intensive care in Greece.