[Treatment considerations for children during terminal care].
There should be a special obligation to shield children with a terminal illness from pain and from the psychological suffering when death is approaching. In spite of this, the child has the right to be informed about the prognosis and decisions taken concerning treatment. We discuss the difficult question of informed consent in pediatrics. Who can make an informed consent on behalf of a minor? At which age should a child make its own decisions concerning medical treatment? In pediatrics there are certain circumstances where withdrawal of intensive medical care is justified. Examples are given from oncological and neuromuscular diseases, as well as from the neonatal period. We discuss how termination of intensive care could take place. The medical team should make the decision alone, but should never go against the parents' will. It is underlined that termination of intensive care in the above-mentioned circumstances is completely different from active euthanasia, which we strongly oppose.
Saugstad
O D
OD
Barneklinikken og Pediatrisk forskningsinstitutt Rikshospitalet, Oslo.
Nygaard
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007258:Informed Consent; D009664:Norway; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*
Behandlingsoverveielser hos barn ved livets avslutning.