The Dying Child

The Dying Child

·        Anticipated: preterm infants, congenital abnormalities, metabolic disease, etc

·        Unanticipated: often older, trauma, SIDS

·        Issues: 

o  Relief of child‟s pain ® pain management, including neonates 

o  Clear and simple information: check their understanding, explain prognosis, explain disease process, avoid information overload or jargon, respect silence

o  Decisions about when to withdraw treatment

o  Before death: time and space, preparation of child 

o  After death: viewing the body, coroner, funeral options, surviving siblings, other families, availability of health care team

·        See also Topic: Children‟s Grief