Beyond the Moment: The Lasting Impact of Moral Distress in Neonatal Intensive Care

Authors

  • Joana Machado Morais Neonatology Department, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9662-5889
  • Carmen Carvalho Director of Department of Neonatology, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto

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References

Carvalho C. Embracing Narrative Medicine in Neonatal Intensive Care Settings. Birth Growth Med J. 2024;33(2):85-86. doi: https://doi.org/10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v33.i2.36427.

Carvalho C, Jácomo A. Embracing the Spiritual Dimension in the NICU: A Bioethical Perspective. Rev Port Bioet. 2025;(29):95.

Boutillier B, Larone JA, Reichherzer M, Tremblay C, Janvier A. Managing moral distress and complex ethical challenges in the NICU. Semin Perinatol. 2025;49(3):152050. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semperi.2025.152050.

Jameton A. Nursing practice: the ethical issues. Glenview (IL): Prentice-Hall; 1984.

Tutty MA, West CP, Dyrbye LN, Wang H, Carlasare LE, Sinsky CA, et al. Moral Distress and Occupational Burnout in US Physicians. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(3):e263161. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3161.

Dudzinski DM. Navigating moral distress using the moral distress map. J Med Ethics. 2016;42(5):321–324. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2015-103156.

Quek CWN, Ong RRS, Wong RSM, Chan SWK, Chok AKL, Shen GS, et al. Systematic scoping review on moral distress among physicians. BMJ Open. 2022;12(9):e064029. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064029.

Prentice TM, Gillam L, Davis PG, Janvier A. Always a burden? Healthcare providers’ perspectives on moral distress. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2018;103:F441–5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-313539.

Mills M, Cortezzo DE. Moral distress in the neonatal intensive care unit: what is it, why it happens, and how we can address it. Front Pediatr. 2020;8:581. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2020.00581.

Rushton CH. Cultivating Moral Resilience. Am J Nurs. 2017 Feb;117(2 Suppl 1):S11-S15. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000512205.93596.00.

Epstein EG, Hamric AB. Moral distress, moral residue, and the crescendo effect. J Clin Ethics. 2009;20(4):330-342.

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Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Machado Morais J, Carvalho C. Beyond the Moment: The Lasting Impact of Moral Distress in Neonatal Intensive Care. BGMJ [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 30 [cited 2026 Jul. 1];. Available from: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/bgmj/article/view/48083

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Ahead of print

Section

Editorial

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Copyright (c) 2026 Joana Machado Morais, Carmen Carvalho

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