title: Freedom of movement across the EU: legal and ethical issues for children with chronic disease.
abstract: While freedom of movement has been one of the most highly respected human right across the EU, there are various aspects which come into play which still need to be resolved for this to be achieved in practice.  One of these key issues is cross border health care. Indeed, there is an increasing awareness of standardisation of health service provision and cross border collaboration in the EU. However, certain groups particularly children may be at risk of suboptimal treatment as a result. We present the case of a child patient which highlights the complexity of this matter spanning family law, health law, social security law as well as ethical issues. EU legislation needs to ensure that children patients have access to high quality care across the EU borders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mercieca
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aquilina
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pullicino
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Borg
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007391:International Cooperation; D008319:Malta; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D028701:Patient Rights
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D008727:Methotrexate