Introduction and Definitions
摘要
Pediatric palliative care (PPC) teams are committed to providing holistic care for children with life-limiting illness and their families by addressing physical, spiritual, and psychosocial aspects of care. PPC is often provided by an interdisciplinary team of health care professionals with subspecialty training in core palliative care concepts, including quality of life, shared decision-making, grief, and bereavement. In addition to medical providers, professionals such as social workers, child life specialists, chaplains, and psychologists contribute their expertise and work collaboratively to meet the distinctive needs of patients and families. Due to prognostic uncertainty in pediatrics, PPC uniquely supports making significant decisions regarding short- and long-term life-sustaining interventions that align with the goals and values of patients and families.