Diabetes in childhood: are the laws obligations or resources? The Italian situation.
Two fundamental acts: "Provisions for the prevention and the cure of the diabetes mellitus" of 1987 and "Convention on the rights of the child, New York, 20 November 1989" of 1991, are a clear reference to the many laws promulgated in Italy protecting the special needs of children and adolescents with diabetes. In particular these acknowledge and emphasize the social value of the disease, the importance of the relationship with families and the infrequent need of hospital treatments. To give adequate answers to the need of self-management, it is essential to involve an integrated multidisciplinary team, adequately formed in order to supply an educational therapeutic intervention, based on medical aid and oriented on psycho pedagogy and social assistance. Cooperation and integration among health services of the territory, hospitals and social services for the complete protection of patients with diabetes--not only of their disease--are therefore necessary. Adequate laws can perhaps influence the quality of treatment and the quality of life in children with diabetes.
La Loggia
Alfonso
A
Diabetes Unit for Children and Adolescents, Health Service n. 2, Caltanissetta, Italy. a.laloggia@tiscalinet.it
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005195:Family Relations; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011639:Public Opinion; D011788:Quality of Life