Palliative care for a newborn with Patau syndrome with the principles of the nursing process – a case study

Introduction To present the care provided by medical staff for a newborn with Patau syndrome. Material and methods The study was based on an individual case analysis. The material was collected based on observation and analysis of medical records. The study was conducted in Warsaw in a specialist hospital with the third reference level in 2021. Results The paper discusses the palliative care of a newborn with a diagnosis of a lethal defect, with particular emphasis on the ethical aspects of dealing with the patient and his parents. Immediately after birth, a decision was made to discontinue persistent therapy for the newborn, replacing it with basic care, which included nursing procedures, nutrition, and improvement of the patient’s comfort. The implemented palliative care plan allowed for unlimited contact between parents and the child until his death. Conclusions Management of the newborn was adjusted to his needs, and actions were undertaken in accordance with the recommendations of palliative care. Communication skills in contact with parents play a key role in palliative care for a newborn, influencing the wellbeing of parents, which translates into their contact with the child and cooperation with the medical team.