title: Is it acceptable for medical professionals to kiss paediatric patients?
abstract: It is human nature, perhaps more so for doctors and nurses, to comfort children in distress. Unfortunately, however, necessary medical procedures carried out by healthcare providers (eg, venipuncture) can often result in pain and discomfort, which may in turn cause the provider a degree of guilt and distress. Is it ever acceptable to comfort a paediatric patient with a kiss? This essay examines the literature published on this subject reflecting on a recent encounter with a patient.
authors.forename: Yassar Abdullah S
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Alamri
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010332:Paternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D000068616:Professionalism / Q000941:ethics*
keywords: Children; Newborns and Minors; Paediatrics