A small life in detail.

End-of-life care for extremely low-birth-weight newborns is complex. Newborns cannot be informed or make personal choices. Uncertainty in outcomes as well as defining futility can make decisions about withdrawing or withholding care nebulous. Major ethical, legal and professional problems can arise when clinicians are not skilled in extending end-of-life care to include the family, healthcare team and all involved. The competent, caring and compassionate clinician can often facilitate a positive outcome in end-of-life experiences.