Introduction

Caring for a child with a life-limiting condition often involves challenging decisions about end of life treatment or care. The law establishes a broad framework for end of life decision-making for children, with the paramount consideration the child’s best interests. At times, a clinician’s views on whether or not medical treatment is in a child’s best interests may differ from those of the child and/or their parents. These situations can be distressing, and ethically challenging for those involved. 

Knowing the law can support clinicians in these situations. This presentation will explore the law and end of life decision-making for children, in the context of a clinical case study. 

Background

End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) (https://cms.qut.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1140969/ELLC-brochure-March-2022.pdf) is a free training program for doctors, medical students, nurses, and allied and other health professionals. It aims to improve clinicians’ knowledge of end of life law through workshops and online training modules.

Aims/objectives

This presentation aims to improve clinicians’ knowledge of the law in paediatric practice. Knowing more about end of life law can help clinicians to:

·        communicate with children and their families, 

·        provide safe, quality, person-centred and compassionate care to children at the end of life, and

·        improve their confidence when participating in shared decision-making. 

 

Key learnings or learning points

Legal topics will include consent to medical treatment (parental decision-making, and decision-making by competent children), withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, futile treatment, urgent treatment, and providing pain and symptom relief.