Pediatric palliative care across continents: Communication and shared-decision-making

Abstract

Despite the significant growth and development of pediatric palliative care worldwide, significant challenges remain. One of those challenges is shared decision-making, by which parents, families and professionals all work together to develop a plan of care that reflects both the medical facts and the patient’s family’s values. Shared decision-making about palliative care and about death and dying may mean different things in different cultures and countries. It is therefore important to learn and compare practices around the world.