title: The pediatric surgeon and palliative care.
abstract: Palliative care is now a core component of pediatric care for children and families who are confronting serious illness with a low likelihood of survival. Pediatric surgeons, in partnership with pediatric palliative care teams, can play a pivotal role in assuring that these patients receive the highest possible quality of care. This article outlines a variety of definitions and conceptual frameworks, describes decision-making strategies and communication techniques, addresses issues of interdisciplinary collaboration and personal self-awareness, and illustrates these points through a series of case vignettes, all of which can help the pediatric surgeon perform the core tasks of pediatric palliative care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP North, 34th and Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. feudtner@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feudtner
authors.forename: Thane A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Blinman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Communication; Decision-making; Hospice care; Palliative care; Supportive care