Dreams and Dilemmas
Parents and the Practice of Neonatal Care
By Richard Kahn
with the Ethics Institute at Dartmouth College

Now Available on DVD! Two-disc set includes a new 40-minute version as well.

Advances in neonatal medicine have dramatically improved the survival chances of premature infants, yet survival can come at a high cost. Many such infants experience severe and often life-threatening health problems, and their parents and caregivers may confront enormously difficult and troubling decisions.

This compelling documentary follows one couple and their premature twin sons over the course of six months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Without narration or preaching, it allows viewers to experience and share in the dilemmas confronted by the parents and by their nurses, physicians, social worker and hospital chaplain. It will be a powerful tool for discussion for students and professionals in healthcare and the social services. Study Guide included. Continuing education credits available.

A complete transcript of the original 58-minute version (1998) is available for download.

58 minutes
© 1998
Purchase $269 DVD
Order No. QA-251
ISBN (DVD) 1-57295-808-1

Reviews
"A compelling narrative which raises many ethical and professional issues relevant to healthcare workers. Excellent examples of teamwork and communication with the family." International Congress on the Care of the Terminally Ill

"Captures the almost unbearable stress of any neonatal ICU, and the pressure parents experience when they must make complex life and death decisions. Highly recommended for use with healthcare professionals, nursing and medical students, and classes in biomedical ethics." Religious Studies Review

"A riveting story of one family's struggle with medical, ethical, financial, and practical issues surrounding their premature twin sons. This program will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in the issues of healthcare ethics." MC Journal

Awards & Conference Screenings
Special Recognition, American Academy of Nursing
Silver Apple, National Educational Media Network
Best Documentary, New Hampshire Film Festival
First Place, National Council on Family Relations
Silver Award, Worldfest Houston
Silver Chris, Best of Division, Columbus International
Bronze, Health Sciences Communications Assn.

Related Films
In Our Midst: Neonatal intensive care units save thousands of infant lives each year. This film profiles a family whose children are all "graduates" of the NICU, and explores the impact of medical technology on their lives.

Code Gray: Academy Award nominee for Best Short Documentary. Explores four open-ended cases in which nurses confront serious ethical dilemmas in their day-to-day work.

A Chance to Grow: Follows three families whose babies are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Their stories demonstrate the capacity of ordinary individuals to adapt to crises with extraordinary grace and courage.

To Choose No Harm: Two healthcare teams must resolve conflicts between the wishes of dying patients and family members, and their own beliefs and clinical judgements. The cases are also discussed by the hospital ethics committee.

There Was a Child: Sensitively demonstrates the impact that losing a pregnancy, or the birth of a stillborn child, has had on three mothers and a father.

To rent or purchase this film, please visit the Icarus Films website

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