LAUSR

The withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration (WANH) is a rare and largely unexplored aspect of neonatal palliative care. In 2009, an AAP report with contributions from the Committee on Bioethics concluded that WANH is considered “ethically acceptable in limited circumstances” [1]. In 2011, a survey of neonatologists revealed that controversy remains surrounding WANH, despite being deemed ethically acceptable, with approximately one in three neonatal providers stating they would not offer WANH because of pain and suffering concerns [2]. At this time, data on the process and frequency of WANH are absent from the medical literature. To this end, we sought to capture recent rates and perspectives regarding WANH in Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) NICUs. Members of the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) are listed below Acknowledgements.