Paper Contents
Abstract
healthcare, particularly due to the involvement of surrogate decision-makerstypically parents or legal guardianswho must make critical choices on behalf of children unable to make informed medical decisions themselves. While surrogate decision-making is intended to ensure that choices are made in the childs best interests, it often raises significant ethical dilemmas. These surrogates face the difficult task of balancing medical information, cultural beliefs, religious values, and emotional bonds, while healthcare professionals strive to uphold the childs welfare and respect the family's autonomy.This paper explores the ethical issues surrounding pediatric decision-making, with a focus on the challenges in surrogate decision-making. Key topics include the best interests standard, the role of the child in decision-making, potential conflicts of interest among surrogates, cultural and religious considerations, and the legal frameworks governing pediatric care. Central ethical dilemmas discussed include the Jehovahs Witness case, where religious beliefs conflict with life-saving treatment, and scenarios involving medical futility in neonatal intensive care and end-of-life decisions for terminally ill children.Ultimately, pediatric care decision-making necessitates a collaborative approach that honors surrogate perspectives while safeguarding the child's rights, health, and dignity. As medical advancements continue to broaden treatment possibilities, these ethical challenges require ongoing dialogue among healthcare professionals, ethicists, and society to navigate complex decisions that impact the lives and well-being of young patients
Copyright
Copyright © 2024 Prof.Dr Jasmine Santha. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
