title: Children with severe and profound disabilities and the issue of social justice.
abstract: Children with severe and profound disabilities are often seen as less worthy of health care resources. In times of managed care and utilitarian allocation decisions, the return on investment of resources is not easily appreciated for children with severe disabilities. This article discusses the quality-of-life considerations, societal attitudes toward people with disabilities, and the tension of the technological imperative. Advanced practice nurses are in a position to advocate for the needs of children with severe disabilities. There is a chance that an ugly history could be repeated if the lives of children with disabilities are not valued.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000592:standards*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011287:Prejudice; D011788:Quality of Life; D012935:Social Justice