A STUDY OF CLINICAL ETHICS IN A PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: THE PLACE GIVEN TO THE PATIENT IN THE DECISIONMAKING

Abstract

In pediatric intensive care unit, pediatricians, ICU
doctors, psychologists, nurses, nursing assistant are
faced with children who express, in a verbal and nonverbal way, their fears, their desires and their wills
concerning cares and their end of life.
How such expressions are interpreted and considered in the decision-making ? This article proposes the
synthesis of 12 consultations of clinical ethics in the
pediatric intensive care unit of the CHU of Nantes
from August, 2011 till June, 2014 and questions the
place which is given to the young patient by nursing
staff and parents in the decision-making.