Termination of Life Support After Severe Child Abuse: The Role of a Guardian ad Litem

Autor: Julie Akiko Gladsjo, David Sine, Joni Oak, John Breding, Robert J. Wells, Sheila Fallon Friedlander, Sharon Kalemkiarian, Angela S. Vieira
Rok vydání: 2004
Předmět:
Zdroj: Pediatrics. 113:e141-e145
ISSN: 1098-4275
0031-4005
DOI: 10.1542/peds.113.2.e141
Popis: Discontinuation of life-sustaining interventions often raises ethical concerns. In cases of severe child abuse with poor prognosis for recovery, accused parents may have a conflict of interest regarding medical decision-making for their child, because the outcome of such decisions may impact legal charges filed against them. The recently issued American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for addressing such cases recommended the appointment of a guardian ad litem for medical decision-making. We present the case of an 8-month-old infant who was abused severely by her father, resulting in a persistent vegetative state. We describe our experience with appointing a guardian ad litem and the ethical issues involved.
Databáze: OpenAIRE