Discussion and debate about decision making should form an important part of the continuing education of medical and nursing staff in neonatal units. Often it may be helpful to discuss cases which the staff have not been involved with the care of the baby and here film material can be valuable. Discussions with parents whose children died in the neonatal period or who survived with or without damage may be valuable, as are role play techniques. The aim of such continuing education is to improve decision-making practice in a situation where it is probably impossible to evolve specific guidelines to cover all eventualities. If a decision has been taken to cease active treatment, it is then the responsibility of the staff to ensure that a baby dies quickly and as painlessly as possible.
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