Pediatric Ethics: Theory and Practice

This book assists health care providers to understand the specific interplay of the roles and relationships currently forming the debates in pediatric clinical ethics. It builds on the fact that, unlike adult medical ethics, pediatric ethics begins within an acutely and powerfully experienced dynamic of patient-family-state-physician relationship. The book provides a unique perspective as it interacts with established approaches as well as recent developments in pediatric ethics theory, and then explores these developments further through cases. The book first focuses on setting the stage by introducing a theoretical framework and elaborating how pediatric ethics differ from non-pediatric ethics. It approaches different theoretical frameworks in a critical manner drawing on their strengths and weaknesses. It helps the reader in developing an ability to engage in ethical reasoning and moral deliberation in order to focus on the wellbeing of the child as the main participant in the ethical deliberation, as well as to be able to identify the child’s moral claims. The second section of the book focuses on the practical application of these theoretical frameworks and discusses specific areas pertaining to decision-making. These are: the critically ill child, new and enduring ethical controversies, and social justice at large, the latter of which includes looking at the child’s place in society, access to healthcare, social determinants of health, and vaccinations. With the dynamic changes and challenges pediatric care faces across the globe, as well as the changing face of new technologies, no professional working in the field of pediatrics can afford not to take due note of this resource.

Dr. Nico Nortjé has been involved with ethics training and research for the past two decades. Nico has a doctorate in Applied Ethics from the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and also holds two masters degrees one in Psychology (cum laude) and one in Future Studies (Business) from the same university. He also has a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Counselling from the University of Glasgow (Scotland) and another post-graduate diploma from the University of Pretoria in Medical Law. Nico is a clinical ethicist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer center, where he focuses on facilitating goal concordant care of patients. In this role he applies theory to practice and is also involved in professional ethics development of health care providers. His research focus is on end-of-life ethics and the intersection of decision-making in the Intensive Care Units.

Dr. Johan Bester is the Director of Bioethics at the UNLV School of Medicine in Las Vegas, Nevada. He teaches bioethics, epidemiology, and evidence-based medicine and provides oversight to ethics content throughout the curriculum. His research focuses on pediatric ethics, vaccination ethics, issues related to autonomy, and justice. Dr. Bester completed his medical degree at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He practiced medicine for 12 years before making a switch to full-time bioethics. This included completing a Master’s degree and PhD in Applied Ethics. Prior to joining the UNLV School of Medicine, he completed a year of fellowship training in bioethics at Cleveland Clinic and worked an additional year as bioethicist at the Clinic. Johan writes extensively on issues related to the health and wellbeing of children, vaccinations, and justice.