Decisions for the care of the young child in the critical and terminal stages of life

Abstract

The article is based on a comparative analysis of three documents, the National Bioethics Committee’s Motion on Aggressive treatment or therapeutic obstinacy on young children with limited life expectancy, Italian Law 219 of 22 December 2017 concerning Rules regarding informed consent and living wills and the Letter Samaritanus bonus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the care of persons in the critical and terminal phases of life. While the three mentioned documents are very diverse, some key themes can be seen running through them that are of relevance as regards the care of paediatric patients in critical or terminal stages, namely: how to assess the quality of life; basic child care, with special reference to: hydration and nutrition; paediatric palliative care; the role of the family in the taking of paediatric-related decisions. The authors also present the points of concordance of the three documents examined, relating in particular to small children with limited life expectancy, namely: seeking a cure whenever possible, providing care at all times, with humility, recognising the limitations of medicine.