This thesis assesses the effectiveness of structured multi-professional medical ethical decision-making in diminishing problems experienced around medical ethical decisionmaking in the Erasmus MC NICU. Besides, it gives an overview of the patients discussed from 2009 to 2012, and their outcomes at two year follow-up.

Patient care, especially in acute settings, is closely linked to emotional burden in nurses and physicians. The impacts of chronic and acute work-related stressors on moral distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, and depression were evaluated. The introduction illuminates the context and the pre-existing problems in the Erasmus MC NICU with respect to medical ethical decision-making.

Besides, consequences of working in a highly demanding context for professionals’ well-being are presented against a practical and a theoretical background.