• M Salas Arrambide, O Gabaldón Poc, J L Mayoral Miravete, E González Pérez-Yarza, and I Amayra Caro.
• Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Filosofía y Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao, Spain. maitanesalas@yahoo.com
• An Pediatr (Barc). 2004 Oct 1;61(4):330-5.

AbstractThe present article reviews aspects unique to pediatric palliative care: the attitudes of medical staff toward pediatric death and life-threatening conditions, distinct patterns of pediatric deaths, the causes of suffering in children with life-threatening conditions and their families, and the features that make palliative care a challenge for children, families, medical staff and society. Concepts of pediatric palliative care and various approaches are described. In addition, Universal Principles of Pediatric Palliative Care are presented. Special attention is paid to approaches that start palliative care at diagnosis of a life-threatening conditions, do not require a short-term life prognosis and do not exclude curative or life-prolonging therapies since these approaches can benefit both children who survive life-threatening conditions and those who die, as well as their families. The need for certain changes through education and research is proposed to improve the quality of life of children and families who currently suffer, satisfaction and cohesion among medical staff, and healthcare quality.

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