Pediatric Ethics: Protecting the Interests of Children 2016

This book examines a range of ethical issues related to children's health and healthcare. It describes the field of paediatric ethics, a unique and important aspect of the discipline of bioethics, the study of moral conduct in healthcare and the rational process of determining the best course of action in the face of conflicting choices. The book begins with an examination of what it means to be a child in America and the unique kinship relationships and responsibilities that arise from a parent's decision to have a child, and explores the ethical principles and professional responsibilities involved in caring for children. Each of the book's chapters focuses on important ethical issues. It begins with ethical issues in the creation of children using reproductive technologies and then continues with an analysis of ethical issues related to childbirth. The book continues with an in-depth analysis of the many difficult choices facing families and clinicians in caring for critically ill newborns, before describing the current controversies surrounding the care of dying older children and their families. Each chapter includes case examples illustrating the real-life concerns of patients, their families and clinicians. The book is intended for students of paediatrics and ethics, as well as practising physicians.