Bioethical reflections on the treatment of neonatal pain in an intensive care unit

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.159562515018

• Palavras-chave: ethics, humanization, neonatal pain, care.

• Keywords: ethics, humanization, neonatal pain, care.

• Abstract:

  Pain management in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) continues to be a major challenge for the care team. Despite all the advances in scientific knowledge, the treatment of pain in neonates is still neglected in many centers, with important biopsychosocial implications. Bioethical reflections on this subject are practically non-existent in the current literature and several studies have pointed out the importance of inclusion and active parental participation in pain management and decision-making for neonates hospitalized in the NICU. This article aims to stimulate bioethical reflections on health care by the nursing team for this vulnerable population, with regard to pain, with a view to improving care and humanizing hospital care.