The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a morally charged space in which parents may be confronted with difficult decisions about the treatment of their newborns, decisions often complicated and created by the increasing use of technologies. This session explores the ways in which technological mediation—or the various ways in which humans can interact with their world via technologies—may impact parental decision-making experiences in the NICU. Articulating the effects of technological mediation on parental decision-making is a key step in addressing decisional conflict in neonatal intensive care settings and better supporting parents in their decision-making roles.

Bioethics and Medical Humanities Grand Rounds provides a forum for teaching participants to resolve cases based on the best ethical practices. Bioethics and Medical Humanities Grand Rounds also provides information on any legislative changes that occur so that clinicians are ready to implement them. The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities is the only clinical ethics center in Wisconsin. The faculty are leaders in clinical ethics and set the agenda for clinical ethics practice in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Key Words: bioethics, clinical ethics, health care ethics, medical ethics, medical humanities, neonatal intensive care, mediation, parental decision making