Pediatric palliative medicine in Brazil: an ethical reflection of medical practice

Anderson  de Almeida Rocha; Lurdiano  Freitas; Juliana  Cesconetto; Lara Calhau  Rebouças; Vitória Barreto  Salomão; Rui Manuel Lopes  Nunes

Authors

Anderson de Almeida Rocha Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2704-8402
Lurdiano Freitas Metropolitan Institute of Higher Education (IMES) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4416-3410
Juliana Cesconetto Metropolitan Institute of Higher Education (IMES)
Lara Calhau Rebouças Metropolitan Institute of Higher Education (IMES)
Vitória Barreto Salomão Metropolitan Institute of Higher Education (IMES)
Rui Manuel Lopes Nunes Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6178-6890

Abstract

The ethical barriers involved in the practice of pediatric palliative medicine remain high and challenging. In terms of medical ethics, attention should be paid to culture, religion and family values, in order to promote adequate care for caregivers, even in case of loss of a patient, promoting a bereavement process with less suffering. The data were qualitatively analyzed by IRAMUTEQ software, with a high degree of significance of essay responses on ethics related to palliative care in pediatrics. Discussions about prognosis, goals of care, and treatment options can be very difficult, as legally supported palliative care alternatives may diverge from the wishes of the family. We conclude that divergences exist between the application of palliative medicine and ethics regarding acceptance and end-of-life management of pediatric patients. Ethical challenges are constantly complex situations in which palliative physicians must relate legal concepts, knowledge and family values, which often conflict. The quality of palliative care depends initially on the ability of specialized professionals to identify and explain the ethical issues that generate conflict or uncertainty, in addition to raising discussions with the family about the medical, moral and legal issues surrounding the difficult situation.

Keywords:

pediatric palliative care, medical ethics, medical practice, palliative medicine

Indexed in

Pediatric palliative medicine in Brazil: an ethical reflection of medical practice

Authors

Abstract

Keywords:

Downloads

Make a Submission

Language

Information

indexado

scimago

publique