Palliative Care for Infants, Children, and Adolescents ─ A Practical Handbook

There are few things requiring more expertise, delicacy, and compassion than caring for an infant, child, or young adult with a life-limiting condition. Written by leading researchers, clinicians from relevant disciplines, family members, and advocates, this practical guide provides professionals involved in pediatric palliative and end-of-life care with comprehensive information in a single volume.

Thoroughly updated and expanded, this edition includes chapters addressing the unique challenges facing children with HIV/AIDS and their families, care in home and ICU settings, difficult decision-making processes, and the importance of communication with the child and family, as well as completely new chapters on spiritual dimensions of care and educational and advocacy initiatives. Intended for primary care physicians, pediatric practitioners and specialists, home care and hospice personnel, pastoral counselors, and affected families, the book includes useful resource and reference material and practical, hands-on tips.

With contributions from an international group of expert educators, clinicians, and parents, this book takes a truly interdisciplinary approach to pediatric palliative care, presenting best practices, clear instruction, and the latest information and research for anyone involved in pediatric palliative and end-of-life care.

Brian S. Carter, M.D., is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Marcia Levetown, M.D., is Principal, HealthCare Communication Associates in Houston, past chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and a Soros Faculty Scholar Alumna of the Project on Death in America. Sarah E. Friebert, M.D., is Director of Palliative Care at Akron Children’s Hospital, associate professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on Hospice and Palliative Medicine.