Children: Serious Illness

Abstract

Communication is vital to the management of serious illness in children. While the definition of serious illness in pediatrics is not yet agreed upon, these different acute, chronic, complex, and sometimes life‐limiting or life‐threatening illnesses present many communication challenges and barriers. These challenges are particularly evident for parents and legal guardians who are often charged with the responsibilities of managing their child's care and coordinating it with various healthcare clinicians. New caregiving responsibilities for parents create a host of uncertainties for them and their child that require a collaborative discussion with their child's healthcare team. The involvement of a pediatric palliative care team can facilitate successful collaborations that promote shared decision making, empower the sick child and his or her family, and facilitate difficult conversations weighing the risks and benefits of medical interventions, including but not limited to care in emergency medical situations – as may be outlined in an advance care planning document. Noting the complexity of the health information, it is of utmost importance that clinicians take into consideration the families' health literacy, culture, and language in order to ensure clear, transparent, and supportive communication.