Ethical issues in treating pediatric rehabilitation patients

Ethical issues pertaining to treating pediatric rehabilitation patients stem from at least three sources: the fact that children are not morally autonomous persons and must depend on the values and moral beliefs of others in ethically complex decision-making situations; the extent of parental authority in asserting problematic beliefs or imposing questionable demands affecting treatment decisions; and the way clinical uncertainty affects moral uncertainty in determining treatment approaches or alternatives. Although these problems are pervasive among all age groups of children with disabilities, this article will primarily examine their impact on the rehabilitation of children and adolescents. Principles and strategies for managing value-laden conflicts will be discussed along with how various ethical, social, and clinical constraints may nevertheless compromise a straightforward resolution of an ethically vexing situation.