Care of children with advanced illness

Abstract

Based on the holistic, family-centred approach of paediatric palliative care, this chapter examines specific aspects of the clinician, parent, and child roles in the care and treatment of children and young persons with life-limiting conditions and life-threatening illnesses. In particular, it identifies communication, information, decision-making, and participation preferences of children and young persons with advanced illness and their parents. Within the clinician–parent–child triad, the chapter sets forward suggestions for clinicians on how to manage differences between a child and his or her parents, and more generally, on how to approach the communication and decision-making processes throughout a child’s or young person’s illness trajectory.