[Ethics and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation]

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a medical activity that involves major ethical issues. As in other areas of clinical ethics, CPR decisions must be based on the principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. The decision-making process is more difficult in emergency situations, and when the patient is a minor, the parents and the child's best interests must be taken into consideration. There are specific situations in which starting CPR is clearly indicated and others in which ceasing resuscitation maneuvers is justified. Do not attempt resuscitation orders must be respected by health staff. Other ethical issues involved in CPR include resuscitation of potential organ donors, learning CPR procedures, research in CPR, and the information given to the parents of children with cardiorespiratory arrest.