“AOR” Discharge in Paediatrics: An Ethical Conundrum

Abstract

At own risk (AOR) discharge in the paediatric setting is a complex phenomenon due to the triad of patient, caregiver, and clinician’s involvement. It would cross disciplines from legal (child protection), moral (professional conducts and legal decisions), and ethical (age, condition, and nationality) perspectives in managing these situations. There are certain ethically acceptable practices that can be approached in the decision-making process such as respecting autonomy, individual’s competence, the truth, patient’s confidentiality and avoidance of paternalism, and all conflicts of interest. We should aim for a collaborative effort in decision-making to prevent AOR. Here, we illustrate a case where parent have opted for an AOR discharge to seek for alternative medical treatment. The article discusses the ethical dilemma when dealing with potentially life-saving conditions.