Pediatric Pharmacy Ethics

 Practicing medicine in pediatrics involves unique ethical considerations and limitation that differ from adult medicine. Ethical principals in pediatrics must consider the best interest of the child while also taking into account parental autonomy, and the balance between the potential benefits and harms of interventions. Additionally, children may lack decision-making capacity and not fully understand the consequences of the choices before them, so healthcare providers must communicate with them and/or their parents/guardians in a developmentally appropriate manner.

I found the parent to child to provider relationship very interesting, as ethical considerations come into play when a provider and parent disagree on the treatment for a child. In peds, the principal of beneficence is incredibly important, which requires providers to act in the best interest of the child. However, parents have the legal authority to make decisions for their child, which can sometimes conflict with the providers clinical judgement. In cases such as this it can be very difficult and import to navigate a delicate balance between respecting parental autonomy and ensuring the child receives the best care.

You've heard it your whole life for every situation you've ever been in, but communication is key! The first step in addressing such disagreements is to have an open and honest discussion with the parents to understand their concerns and reasons for their decision. Then comes the magic of the provider. It is their job to actively listen and try to address any misconceptions or misunderstandings the parent may have about the treatment options. It is also important to provide the parents with accurate and unbiased information about treatment options.

The escalation process of these ethical problems was also very interesting to me. For example if the disagreement persists, the provider can (and should) seek consultation from other members of the healthcare team, such as colleagues, social work, ethics committees, or in extreme circumstances legal advisors. These members can provide additional and unique perspectives to help navigate the ethical issues involved.

In conclusion, disagreements between providers and parents on the treatment for a child can create ethical dilemmas that might require careful consideration. It is the healthcare teams responsibility to balance the principals of beneficence and parental autonomy to ensure that the child receives the best possible care.