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Discover Pediatric Collections on COVID-19 and Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health

American Academy of Pediatrics
Special Article

Are We Allowed to Discontinue Medical Treatment in This Child?

Wendela G. Leeuwenburgh-Pronk, Laura Miller-Smith, Vicki Forman, John D. Lantos, Dick Tibboel and Corinne Buysse
Pediatrics February 2015, peds.2014-0548; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-0548
Wendela G. Leeuwenburgh-Pronk
aSophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands;
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Laura Miller-Smith
bChildren’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri; and
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Vicki Forman
cVerdugo Hills Hospital, Glendale, California
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John D. Lantos
bChildren’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri; and
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Dick Tibboel
aSophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands;
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Corinne Buysse
aSophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands;
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Abstract

One of the most difficult ethical dilemmas in pediatrics today arises when a child has complex chronic conditions that are not curable and cause discomfort with no prospect of any improvement on quality of life. In the context of medical futility, it is harmful to prolong medical treatment. The question is: How can medical treatment be discontinued when the child is not dependent on mechanical ventilation or ICU treatment? What is the appropriate palliative care and does it justify the use of sedatives or analgesics if this also might shorten life?

  • child
  • ethics
  • palliative care
  • terminal sedation
  • withdrawal of medical treatment
  • Accepted May 7, 2014.
  • Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Pediatrics
Vol. 147, Issue 1
1 Jan 2021
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Are We Allowed to Discontinue Medical Treatment in This Child?
Wendela G. Leeuwenburgh-Pronk, Laura Miller-Smith, Vicki Forman, John D. Lantos, Dick Tibboel, Corinne Buysse
Pediatrics Feb 2015, peds.2014-0548; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2014-0548

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Are We Allowed to Discontinue Medical Treatment in This Child?
Wendela G. Leeuwenburgh-Pronk, Laura Miller-Smith, Vicki Forman, John D. Lantos, Dick Tibboel, Corinne Buysse
Pediatrics Feb 2015, peds.2014-0548; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2014-0548
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  • Racism as a Root Cause Approach: A New Framework
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