title: What is pediatric hospice care?
abstract: This article describes the application of hospice principles and values to situations involving children--here identified by the phrase "pediatric hospice care." The exposition is carried out in two ways. First, we explore the basic principles and values of hospice care to make them clear as a foundation for what follows and to dispel misunderstandings. Second, we indicate some of the many ways in which those principles and values can have relevance to situations involving children and to institutions in our society. Our underlying concern is to acknowledge the work of those caregivers who are already engaged in some aspect of this sort of care and to encourage expansion of that interest on behalf of those children and families who need this sort of supportive care.
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States