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Decision-making capacity of children and adolescents : suggestions for advancing the concept's implementation in pediatric healthcare

Ruhe, Katharina M. and Wangmo, Tenzin and Badarau, Domnita Oana and Elger, Bernice S. and Niggli, Felix. (2014) Decision-making capacity of children and adolescents : suggestions for advancing the concept's implementation in pediatric healthcare. European journal of pediatrics, Vol. 174, H. 6. pp. 775-782.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6328878

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Abstract

Within the frameworks of shared decision-making and participation in healthcare, children’s ability to understand and appreciate information pertaining to illness and treatment is important. Physicians are mainly responsible for assessing decision-making capacity (DMC) but may encounter difficulties arising from the limited basis of evidence with regard to this concept in pediatrics. Three issues contributing to this paucity of knowledge on DMC of children can be identified: (1) conceptual blurriness and absence of clear terminology, (2) lack of validated tools to reliably assess DMC in the pediatric population, and (3) a need to include a developmental framework to understand DMC in children and adolescents. The aim of this paper is to examine these three issues and provide practical recommendations to advance the concept and its assessment in pediatrics as a step to ensuring children’s developmentally appropriate participation in healthcare. Finally, the paper highlights the ethical dimension of assessing DMC emphasizing the importance of physicians’ attitudes for the assessment process. Conclusion: A detailed understanding of DMC is necessary to inform developmentally appropriate participation. In order to achieve this, pediatric practice needs to address challenges that are specific to providing healthcare for children, including conceptual issues, assessment, and aspects of child development.
Faculties and Departments:08 Cross-disciplinary Subjects > Ethik > Institut für Bio- und Medizinethik > Bio- und Medizinethik (Elger)
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Public Health > Ethik in der Medizin > Bio- und Medizinethik (Elger)
UniBasel Contributors:Ruhe, Katharina and Wangmo, Tenzin and Elger, Bernice Simone and Badarau, Domnita
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:1432-1076
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Identification Number:
Last Modified:04 Sep 2015 14:30
Deposited On:04 Sep 2015 14:30

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