There is an absence of definitive information concerning the long-term outcome of children born with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Physicians, however, are called on to prognosticate about the future quality of life of these children. Our study examined pediatricians' and neonatologists' prognoses for infants with grade I- and grade-IV IVH and the impact of those prognoses on recommendations for treatment. A national random survey of 289 pediatricians and 283 neonatologists found that both groups expected infants with grade-I IVH to have slight impairments to future development, whereas infants with grade-IV IVH were expected to have severe impairments. Physicians prognosticated that infants with grade-IV IVH would function at a moderate to severe level of mental retardation, incapable of any employment, and residing in an institution. Furthermore, physicians would encourage parents to seek medical treatment of respiratory distress for the infant with grade-I IVH but were neutral or would discourage parents from seeking treatment for the infant with grade-IV IVH. Lastly, physicians' prognoses were significantly related to their recommendations for treatment. Several differences in physicians' prognoses and recommendations were found to be related to their discipline and training.