A Scoping Review of Perinatal Palliative Care: Allowing Parents to Be Parents

Objective -Perinatal palliative care (PPC) is an option for patients who discover that their infant has a life-limiting fetal condition, which decreases the burden of the condition using a multidisciplinary approach. Study Design -This review discusses the landmark literature in the past two decades, which have seen significant growth and development in the concept of PPC. Results -The literature describes the background, quality, and benefits of offering PPC, as well as the ethical principles that support its being offered in every discussion of fetal life-limiting diagnoses. Conclusions -PPC shares a similar risk profile to other options after life-limiting diagnosis, including satisfaction with choice of continuation of pregnancy. The present clinical opinion closes by noting common barriers to establishing PPC programs and offers a response to overcome each one.