Advance care planning for paediatric patients
- PMID: 19436544
- PMCID: PMC2603159
- DOI: 10.1093/pch/13.9.791
Advance care planning for paediatric patients
Abstract
Medical and technological advances have increased survival rates and enhanced the quality of life for infants, children and youths with chronic life-threatening conditions. Advance care planning includes the process of discussing life-sustaining treatments and establishing long-term care goals. Paediatric health care practitioners have an ethical obligation to educate themselves about this aspect of medical care. The present statement aims to assist health care practitioners to discuss advance care planning for paediatric patients in varied settings. Advance care planning requires effective communication to clarify the goals of care and establish agreement on what treatments may or may not be appropriate to achieve these goals, including resuscitative and palliative measures.
References
-
- Himelstein BP, Hilden JM, Boldt AM, Weissman D. Pediatric palliative care. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1752–62. - PubMed
-
- Judson L. Global childhood chronic illness. Nurs Adm Q. 2004;28:60–6. - PubMed
-
- Missiuna C, Smits C, Rosenbaum P, Woodside J, Law M. Incidence and prevalence of childhood disabilities. CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. 2005
-
- American Academy of Pediatrics; Committee on Bioethics and Committee on Hospital Care Palliative care for children. Pediatrics. 2000;106:351–7. - PubMed
-
- Rabkin MT, Gillerman G, Rice NR. Orders not to resuscitate. N Engl J Med. 1976;295:364–6. - PubMed
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources