“The best interests of the child” in palliative care
Palliative care raises difficult ethical and existential questions.
The healthcare region of Uppsala organised its palliative care conference October 10. This year, the focus was on children and adolescents. William Bülow O’Nils was there to talk about “the best interests of the child”.
William Bülow O’Nils is senior lecturer of biomedical ethics
How do you act “in the best interests of the child” when there is no cure in sight? Palliative care raises difficult ethical and existential questions. These questions arise not only with the children themselves, but also with their families and the healthcare professionals who care for them.
In palliative care, you often face difficult trade-offs between life extension and reduction of suffering. The will of the child, their level of understanding and maturity is to be weighed against parents’ wishes and medical assessments. There is rarely a clear answer to what is in the best interests of the child.
“When it comes to children, it is important to see to the physical and psychological wellbeing as well as the emotional and existential needs of the individual child. It is important that their voice is heard and considered. Both because it can be difficult to know what is best for a child without listening to their perspective, and as a matter of respect,” says William Bülow O’Nils, senior lecturer of biomedical ethics at Uppsala University’s Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics.
William Bülow O’Nils was invited to present at the palliative care conference, and talked about how the principle of the “best interests of the child”, as a bioethical principle, should be understood in palliative care of children and adolescents.
By Anna Holm Bodin
William Bülow O'Nils' presentation starts at 30 minutes 40 seconds.
About "the best interests of the child"
Article 3.1 in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.