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Ethical Problems

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Neonatology

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Abstract

“I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.” The Hippocratic Oath expressed beneficence and non-maleficence as basic principles of medical ethics more than 2000 years ago. Beneficence in perinatal and neonatal medicine refers to the responsibility of the physicians to act in the “best interests” of the fetus and newborn infant. Non-maleficence relates to the avoidance of harm to the fetus and infant, but also to the mother. This implies that the benefit of treatments should outweigh the harm and risks of the treatment for the patient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Otwin Linderkamp

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  1. Otwin Linderkamp
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena General Hospital S. Maria alle Scotte Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy

    Giuseppe Buonocore (Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Head of School of Pediatrics) (Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Head of School of Pediatrics)

  2. University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Rodolfo Bracci (Formerly Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine) (Formerly Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine)

  3. University of Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

  4. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

  5. Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

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Linderkamp, O. (2012). Ethical Problems. In: Buonocore, G., Bracci, R., Weindling, M. (eds) Neonatology. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1405-3_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1405-3_15

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