Caring toward cure

Abstract

Care determines cure and, therefore, the mode of care dictates the outcome. The medical needs do not determine care, but rather define the reality within which the child has to live. Where that care is given to the child should be a haven, just as home ought to be a secure place to be oneself. The child participates in the therapeutic community as much as the child participates in the family. Therefore, the treatment environment of the child should be designed to foster caring toward cure. The care that is given will determine the truly cured child. The children must be allowed to be themselves so that they can be cared for and thereby their cure assured. To accomplish that, medical care must be incorporated into a normalizing, structured, therapeutic community wherein the child can exercise autonomy and the care givers, compassion.