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Liisa Hovi, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki

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Abstract of Keynote presentation

End-Of-Life Care of Children and Adolescents with Cancer

 

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When cure is no longer a reasonable goal for treatment for a child with cancer it is time to establish the new goals. This may be regarded as a transition period and is extremely important and often very difficult and time-consuming. The role of the physician is to assess the possible goals and share the facts with the family and, if appropriate, the patient. Good pre-existing relationships between the family and the hospital health care team members make a great help in this difficult task.

There are no absolutely right or wrong methods for dealing with end-of-life care of a child.
Different ethnic societies may have their own ways. Openness, honesty, allowing the sense of hope and respecting the child’s possible wish of not-knowing have been important aspects in the Nordic countries and will be discussed here.

Attending to all physical complaints of the patient is very important. In addition to that, emotional, philosophical, spiritual and psychosocial distress of the patient and the family  should be dealt with. The aim is to provide the best possible quality of life to the patient for the remaining time. This also helps the family members not only to live through this difficult period but also to continue their living after the death of the child.             

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Arranged by the Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics, in collaboration with:

Barncancerfonden (the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation)

Läkartidningen (the Journal of the Swedish Medical Association)

Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation)

Vårdal Foundation for Health Care and Allergy Research

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