Neonatal Ethics Teaching Program - Problem Based Learning in Ethics (PBLE): Unexpected Birth Malformation

Abstract

A PBLE is a teaching tool that imparts knowledge on some of the competencies of the Neonatal Ethics Teaching Program that the NICU fellows are expected to acquire before completing their Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine training at the University of Ottawa. Furthermore, a PBLE provides trainees the opportunity to practice and learn how they would interact with a true patient in a given clinical scenario. This helps trainees improve their communication skills and application of ethical principles when they have to interact with parents in delicate, difficult, and ethically charged situations regarding either their unborn or born child. Trainees are encouraged to refer to a procedural form that outlines the steps they should follow during a one on one medical encounter and use the standardized patient as a teaching tool. This PBLE is specific to the malformed child scenario where trainees are taught to recognize the typical emotional reactions of parents to an unexpected birth malformation; describe ways to promote bonding between the parent and child; and list at least three things parents want from physicians during disclosure of a birth malformation.