Debriefing

Family medicine

Palliative care

Medical education

End-of-life care

Nursing

Medicine

PEDIATRICS

The final hours, days, and weeks in the life of a child or adolescent with serious illness are stressful for families, pediatricians, and other pediatric caregivers. This clinical report reviews essential elements of pediatric care for these patients and their families, establishing end-of-life care goals, anticipatory counseling about the dying process (expected signs or symptoms, code status, desired location of death), and engagement with palliative and hospice resources. This report also outlines postmortem tasks for the pediatric team, including staff debriefing and bereavement.

Guidance for Pediatric End-of-Life Care