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Nudging in Neonatology: Practical Wisdom and Accountability for Reasonableness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2019

Michal Stanak Open the ORCID record for Michal Stanak [Opens in a new window]
Michal Stanak*
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment and Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna
*
Author for correspondence: Michal Stanak, E-mail: michal.stanak@hta.lbg.ac.at
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Abstract

Objectives

The way choice is presented has an impact on decision-making. This is the case also in the context of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), particularly in the challenging cases that concern the limit of viability. The objective of this article is to examine the role of nudging in the shared decision-making in neonatology and elaborate on the respective moral challenges.

Results

Nudging is not morally neutral. There are two key sources of ethical issues at the heart of nudging. The first one concerns the lack of transparency, while the second concerns the background value judgments that are imminent whenever nudging is used for achieving a particular end. To solve the underlying conflict, a virtue ethics approach combined with the accountability for reasonableness framework is suggested to guide the use of the tool of nudging.

Conclusions

NICU professionals ought to use the tool of nudging transparently in line with their act of profession and their practically wise judgment.

Keywords

NudgingNeonatologyNICUAccountabilityPractical wisdom
Type
Article Commentary
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , 2019 , pp. 5 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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