When a Mother Changes Her Mind About a DNR
Jason Higginson1,2, Kellie R Lang3, Hellen Ransom2
1Departments of Pediatrics and higginsonj@ecu.edu.
Pediatrics
|June 23, 2018
Summary
Parents
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Ethics
- Bioethics
- Child Advocacy
Background:
- Parents generally have decision-making autonomy for their children.
- High-risk medical decisions necessitate careful consideration of parental roles.
- Pediatric health care teams act as societal safeguards.
Observation:
- A case involving an infant with complex medical needs and prolonged hospitalization is presented.
- A conflict arose between a mother and the medical team regarding life-sustaining treatment.
- The mother requested the abrupt removal of life-sustaining treatment.
Findings:
- Ethical decision-making frameworks are crucial in complex pediatric cases.
- Barriers and unconscious bias can impede parental involvement in medical decisions.
- Child advocacy is a vital function for pediatric health care teams.
Implications:
- Understanding parental roles in high-risk medical decisions is essential.
- Addressing barriers and biases can improve shared decision-making.
- Ethical frameworks support child advocacy and parental rights.
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