ACT--for pediatric palliative care

There are approximately 400,000 children living in America with life-threatening conditions, and every year approximately 55,000 children die. Many of these children suffer at the time of their death due to lack of aggressive symptom management. While curative medicine is always the primary goal of treatment, there may come a time when parents must choose another option of care for their child. Aggressive Comfort Treatment (ACT) is the option that will make the difference in the life and loss of a child. ACT proposes aggressive symptom management with attention to psychosocial and spiritual needs. Allowing the individual and family to have a voice in the dying process, palliation is pursued just as aggressively as cure once was. In support of ACT, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the development and broad availability of pediatric palliative care services (AAP, 2007). Promoting life enhancement rather than life extension, ACT will have a monumental impact on the care of a dying child.