Pediatric Decision Making: Consensus Recommendations
Erica K. Salter, D. Micah Hester, Lou Vinarcsik, Armand H. Matheny Antommaria, Johan C. Bester, Jeffrey Blustein, Ellen Wright Clayton, Douglas S. Diekema, Ana S. Iltis, Loretta M. Kopelman, Jay R. Malone, Mark R. Mercurio, Mark C. Navin, Erin Paquette, Thaddeus Mason Pope, Rosamond Rhodes, Lainie Friedman Ross
Abstract
Despite apparent disagreement in the scholarly literature on standards of pediatric decision making, a recognition that similar norms underpin many of the dominant frameworks motivated a June 2022 symposium "Best Interests and Beyond: Standards of Decision Making in Pediatrics" in St Louis, MO. Over the course of this 3-day symposium, 17 expert scholars (see author list) deliberated on the question "In the context of US pediatric care, what moral precepts ought to guide parents and clinicians in medical decision making for children?" The symposium and subsequent discussion generated 6 consensus recommendations for pediatric decision making, constructed with the primary goals of accessibility, teachability, and feasibility for practicing clinicians, parents, and legal guardians. In this article, we summarize these recommendations, including their justification, limitations, and remaining concerns.