Hoping Against Hope: Ethical Considerations when Trying Unproven Treatments for Seriously Ill Children

IF 1.1 Q3 ETHICS

Asian Bioethics Review Pub Date : 2025-02-27 DOI:10.1007/s41649-024-00340-2

Ji Hyun Yang, Yumi Son, Ilhak Lee

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Modern medicine is continually evolving, yet developing and validating new treatments for paediatric patients presents significant challenges. Ethical dilemmas often arise when parents consider nonstandard treatments for their children, driven by desperation and the hope of finding effective interventions. Therefore, there is an urgent need for robust ethical frameworks to guide thier decision-making processes. Such frameworks must include the necessity for informed consent, ensuring that parents understand the potential risks and benefits of unproven treatments. Additionally, clear and open communication between parents and healthcare providers throughout the treatment journey is crucial. This ensures that decisions are made in the best interest of paediatric patients, considering their unique needs and vulnerabilities. By addressing the ethical considerations of trying unproven treatment for seriously ill children, healthcare professionals can better navigate these complexities, and ultimately foster a more compassionate and ethically sound healthcare environment.

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希望与希望：为重病儿童尝试未经证实的治疗时的伦理考虑

现代医学在不断发展，但开发和验证儿科患者的新治疗提出了重大挑战。当父母出于绝望和寻求有效干预的希望而考虑对孩子进行非标准治疗时，往往会出现道德困境。因此，迫切需要强有力的道德框架来指导他们的决策过程。这种框架必须包括知情同意的必要性，确保家长了解未经证实的治疗方法的潜在风险和益处。此外，在整个治疗过程中，父母和医疗服务提供者之间清晰开放的沟通至关重要。这确保在考虑到儿科患者的独特需求和脆弱性的情况下，做出符合其最佳利益的决定。通过解决对重病儿童尝试未经证实的治疗方法的伦理考虑，医疗保健专业人员可以更好地驾驭这些复杂性，并最终培养一个更富有同情心和道德健全的医疗保健环境。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Asian Bioethics Review Multiple-

CiteScore

6.20

自引率

3.40%

发文量

期刊介绍： Asian Bioethics Review (ABR) is an international academic journal, based in Asia, providing a forum to express and exchange original ideas on all aspects of bioethics, especially those relevant to the region. Published quarterly, the journal seeks to promote collaborative research among scholars in Asia or with an interest in Asia, as well as multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary bioethical studies more generally. It will appeal to all working on bioethical issues in biomedicine, healthcare, caregiving and patient support, genetics, law and governance, health systems and policy, science studies and research. ABR provides analyses, perspectives and insights into new approaches in bioethics, recent changes in biomedical law and policy, developments in capacity building and professional training, and voices or essays from a student’s perspective. The journal includes articles, research studies, target articles, case evaluations and commentaries. It also publishes book reviews and correspondence to the editor. ABR welcomes original papers from all countries, particularly those that relate to Asia. ABR is the flagship publication of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. The Centre for Biomedical Ethics is a collaborating centre on bioethics of the World Health Organization.