Dangerous Things We Used to Do in Neonatology

Abstract

Neonatology has been a rapidly growing specialty, starting in the early 1900s with premature infants displayed in incubator shows, to today with complex disease processes treated in state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care units. Along the way evolving knowledge, medications, and technology provided opportunities to learn from mistakes and misguided treatments. The ability to learn from past mistakes improves our care now and illustrates the need for humility and vigilance in everything we do. This article explores errors made in the past as we look forward to the future.

Keywords: History; Medications; Neonatal care; Neonatology; Respiratory care; Thermoregulation.