Before the Boat Sails: Ethical Considerations for Timely Antenatal, Perinatal and Neonatal Palliative Care: A Commentary

When faced with uncertainty surrounding a life-threatening or life-limiting neonatal condition, timely referral to a palliative care team – either antenatally or postnatally – is crucial to support informed decision-making for both the neonate and the family. Delays in initiating this process may result in missed opportunities for critical decisions, potentially resulting in outcomes that are more strenuous on the neonate, family and healthcare team. The window for such decision-making is often narrow; however, when appropriate choices are made within this period, the overall medical, ethical and emotional burden on the neonate, the family and the healthcare team can be significantly reduced. This reflective piece highlights the unique value of palliative care across the antenatal, perinatal and neonatal periods.