Beyond Pediatric Palliative Care by Brianne C Helfrich

Beyond Pediatric Palliative Care by Brianne C Helfrich

Pediatric end-of-life care remains one of the most ethically fraught domains in modern medicine. Yet, the existing palliative care frameworks leave gaps which ought to be addressed. This book confronts those gaps, examining whether other end-of-life interventions should be integrated into pediatric palliative care in the U.S. Drawing on bioethical principles, comparative analysis and societal influence, the book maps the global landscape of pediatric end-of-life – including implemented models in Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada. Additionally, this book serves to examine religious, cultural and stigmatic forces that shape end-of-life decision-making. It evaluates the limitations of current U.S. palliative care, explores pediatric autonomy and decisional capacity, and critically assesses how institutional ethics consultation frameworks (ASBH and VHA models) can support compassionate care for young patients. This book paves the path for a new ethical conversation to unfold. It is essential reading for pediatric clinicians, bioethicists, health policy researchers, palliative care specialists and legal scholars who seek a rigorous, interdisciplinary foundation in navigating one of healthcare’s most underexplored ethical topics.

 Brianne C. Helfrich, independent scholar, Toronto, Canada.