Adolescents with life-threatening illnesses

Abstract

Adolescents have unique physical and psychosocial needs. Adolescents want to gain autonomy, yet they must still rely on their parents for support. These unique needs are further complicated by a life-threatening illness. Adolescents with life-threatening illnesses must rely on their parents, due to legal aspects of decision making, and they also face potential loss of peer interaction as they spend more time in hospitals and away from their friends. Adolescents may also be concerned with fertility, reproduction, and sexuality, issues that are often not addressed in palliative care programs. To meet the unique needs of adolescents, specific palliative care programs may need to be developed.