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Ethics Committees-Reply

Ethics Committees-Reply Abstract In Reply.—I appreciate the comments of Drs Carter and Sparks on my article concerning the Children's Hospital National Medical Center Ethics Forum. However, they misunderstood several elements of that report. Nowhere in the article did I imply that pediatricians have more competence in making moral decisions than patients, families, or other members of the lay community. But pediatricians are not expected to have less competence. As Drs Carter and Sparks state, pediatricians have "special knowledge and responsibilities in dealing with children." One of those fiduciary responsibilities is to reduce or prevent the patient's pain and suffering when treatment is futile. Along with other health care professionals, therefore, the pediatrician is expected to act as a moral agent for the fatally ill child. Concern is also expressed by the commentators that our proposed policy's goal is only to prolong life. This is not its sole intent. Nonmaleficence and beneficence are References 1. Pellegrino ED, Hart RJ, Henderson SR, et al: Relevance and utility of courses in medical ethics . JAMA 1985;253:49-53.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

Ethics Committees-Reply

Abstract

Abstract In Reply.—I appreciate the comments of Drs Carter and Sparks on my article concerning the Children's Hospital National Medical Center Ethics Forum. However, they misunderstood several elements of that report. Nowhere in the article did I imply that pediatricians have more competence in making moral decisions than patients, families, or other members of the lay community. But pediatricians are not expected to have less competence. As Drs Carter and Sparks state,...
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References (2)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0002-922X
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1988.02150030015002
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract In Reply.—I appreciate the comments of Drs Carter and Sparks on my article concerning the Children's Hospital National Medical Center Ethics Forum. However, they misunderstood several elements of that report. Nowhere in the article did I imply that pediatricians have more competence in making moral decisions than patients, families, or other members of the lay community. But pediatricians are not expected to have less competence. As Drs Carter and Sparks state, pediatricians have "special knowledge and responsibilities in dealing with children." One of those fiduciary responsibilities is to reduce or prevent the patient's pain and suffering when treatment is futile. Along with other health care professionals, therefore, the pediatrician is expected to act as a moral agent for the fatally ill child. Concern is also expressed by the commentators that our proposed policy's goal is only to prolong life. This is not its sole intent. Nonmaleficence and beneficence are References 1. Pellegrino ED, Hart RJ, Henderson SR, et al: Relevance and utility of courses in medical ethics . JAMA 1985;253:49-53.Crossref

Journal

American Journal of Diseases of ChildrenAmerican Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 1988

There are no references for this article.