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Fear of litigation may increase resuscitation of infants born near the limits of viability.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ballard, DW; Li, Y; Evans, J; Ballard, RA; Ubel, PA
Published in: The Journal of pediatrics
June 2002

To explore how fear of litigation influences neonatal treatment decisions.In a mailed survey, we presented a hypothetical vignette of a premature infant to 1000 neonatologists. We asked them to estimate prognosis, indicate appropriate intervention, and respond to parental treatment requests. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive one of two questionnaires, "litigious" or "nonlitigious," which differed only in the description of the infant's parents.The response rate was 63.0%. The vast majority of respondents deferred to parental requests rather than adhering to their best judgment. They deferred whether or not parents requested treatment and whether or not parents were described as litigious (P <.0001). Among those respondents who shifted their resuscitation opinion after parental introduction, respondents to the nonlitigious version were more likely to shift their opinion from "treat" to "do not treat" after parental requests to "use your best judgment" (P <.042). The influence of parental litigiousness was primarily seen among neonatologists who thought that the infant's prognosis was dismal (P <.044).There is a strong disposition among neonatologists toward respecting parental wishes. This disposition is stronger when neonatologists are given additional reason to be concerned about litigation.

Duke Scholars

Published In

The Journal of pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1097-6833

ISSN

0022-3476

Publication Date

June 2002

Volume

140

Issue

6

Start / End Page

713 / 718

Related Subject Headings

  • Resuscitation
  • Prognosis
  • Physicians
  • Pediatrics
  • Malpractice
  • Male
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Ballard, D. W., Li, Y., Evans, J., Ballard, R. A., & Ubel, P. A. (2002). Fear of litigation may increase resuscitation of infants born near the limits of viability. The Journal of Pediatrics, 140(6), 713–718. https://doi.org/10.1067/mpd.2002.124184
Ballard, Dustin W., Yuelin Li, Jacquelyn Evans, Roberta A. Ballard, and Peter A. Ubel. “Fear of litigation may increase resuscitation of infants born near the limits of viability.The Journal of Pediatrics 140, no. 6 (June 2002): 713–18. https://doi.org/10.1067/mpd.2002.124184.
Ballard DW, Li Y, Evans J, Ballard RA, Ubel PA. Fear of litigation may increase resuscitation of infants born near the limits of viability. The Journal of pediatrics. 2002 Jun;140(6):713–8.
Ballard, Dustin W., et al. “Fear of litigation may increase resuscitation of infants born near the limits of viability.The Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 140, no. 6, June 2002, pp. 713–18. Epmc, doi:10.1067/mpd.2002.124184.
Ballard DW, Li Y, Evans J, Ballard RA, Ubel PA. Fear of litigation may increase resuscitation of infants born near the limits of viability. The Journal of pediatrics. 2002 Jun;140(6):713–718.
Journal cover image

Published In

The Journal of pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1097-6833

ISSN

0022-3476

Publication Date

June 2002

Volume

140

Issue

6

Start / End Page

713 / 718

Related Subject Headings

  • Resuscitation
  • Prognosis
  • Physicians
  • Pediatrics
  • Malpractice
  • Male
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Humans