Withholding Artificially Provided Nutrition and Hydration from Disabled Children-Assessing Their Quality of Life

Abstract

This article focuses on quality of life determinations and limitation of treatment decisions for children with physical and mental disabilities. Issues are addressed through one pediatric convalescent center's ethical dilemma, deliberations and process for decision-making when the organization's definition of quality of life differed from that of the parents wishing to place their child there. The Ethics Committee suggested revised admission criteria to include provision of hydration and nutrition for future admissions.