title: 'I can't tell my child they are dying'. Helping parents have conversations with their child.
abstract: This paper explores the challenges of resolving conflicting feelings around talking with a child about their terminal prognosis. When children are left out of such conversations it is usually done with good intent, with a parent wishing to protect their child from anxiety or loss of hope. There is however growing evidence that sensitive, timely, age appropriate information from those with whom children have a good relationship is helpful both for the child and their family. There is no evidence that involving children in sensitive and timely discussions creates significant problems, rather that withholding information may lead to confusion, frustration, distress and anger. The authors discuss ways in which families can be supported to have these significant conversations with their children.
authors.affiliation: Martin House Children's Hospice, Wetherby, UK.|The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aldridge
authors.affiliation: The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimmon
authors.affiliation: Martin House Children's Hospice, Wetherby, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: General Paediatrics; Palliative Care