The Intersection of Genetics and Perinatal Palliative Care

Needs Statement

Physicians, fellows, residents, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals who specialize in neonatal palliative care need to receive regular updates on evidence-based practices and guidelines for managing pain and other symptoms in neonates with life-threatening or life-limiting medical conditions. Experts will review complex cases as an impetus for discussion of team-based neonatal palliative care and of how to care for the needs of family members. The series aims to expand the knowledge of learners and to improve their skills in guiding family decision-making, discussing advance care planning, and providing neonatal care that meets the social, cultural, and spiritual needs of family members in the end-of-life setting.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the participants should be able to:

• Identify the three main categories of genetic abnormalities that cause disease.
• Summarize the role of genetic counselors in the diagnosis and care of fetuses and neonates.
• Recognize how having or not having a genetic evaluation can affect the family members of neonates receiving palliative care.
• Apply appropriate communication strategies when discussing the results of genetic tests and the need for end-of-life care.

Target Audience

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.