Death of a child in the emergency department

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Clinical Ethics
• Bereavement Care

Background:

• Child death in the emergency department (ED) presents significant challenges for clinicians.
• Existing protocols require updates to align with patient- and family-centered care principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a revised technical report and policy statement on managing pediatric deaths in the ED.
• To reaffirm principles of patient- and family-centered care in this critical context.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on family presence, termination of resuscitation, and clinician bereavement.
• Development of guidelines and appendices for practical application in the ED.

Main Results:

• Identified key areas for improvement in caring for patients, families, and staff during pediatric death.
• Provided practical approaches for bereavement activities, forensic responsibilities, communication, and end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

• Emphasizes the importance of a structured, compassionate approach to pediatric death in the ED.
• Supports enhanced training and resources for ED clinicians managing child fatalities.