Decisions to withdraw or withhold neonatal intensive care Richard Tubman, Consultant Neonatologist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Address for Correspondence: Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Jubilee Maternity

Neonatal medicine is a relatively young specialty, having existed for about 40 years. There have been considerable advances in that time and sick newborn babies are now offered similar intensive care to older children and adults. It is not unusual to care for babies at the very margins of viability. Many babies have complex problems requiring multidisciplinary specialist input. We often find ourselves in situations that pose ethical dilemmas, not least of which is making the decision to withhold or withdraw intensive care. In this article I will discuss some practical dilemmas rather than comment on philosophical considerations