The ethics of neonatal research: A trialists' perspective

Sara B DeMauro; Elizabeth E Foglia; Barbara Schmidt

doi:10.1016/j.siny.2015.08.004

The ethics of neonatal research: A trialists' perspective

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2015 Dec;20(6):431-5. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2015.08.004. Epub 2015 Sep 26.

Authors

Sara B DeMauro¹, Elizabeth E Foglia¹, Barbara Schmidt²

Affiliations

¹ The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
² The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 26394826
DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2015.08.004

Abstract

We are neonatal physicians who strive to practice evidence-based medicine. We conduct and promote randomized trials in preterm and critically ill infants to improve their care and outcomes. Controlled clinical trials are ethical and essential because randomization is the best strategy to minimize bias when evaluating therapies of uncertain benefit. Perinatal and neonatal randomized trials have identified better care practices, uncovered useless or harmful therapies, and revealed new knowledge gaps. We are convinced that neonatal randomized trials can be done safely and in partnership with the infants' families.

Keywords: Ethics; Infant; Newborn; Randomized controlled trial; Research.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomedical Research / ethics*
Evidence-Based Medicine*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Neonatology / ethics*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic