The clinical guidelines provided on this site including Clinical Guideline – Agitation – management in the palliative paediatric patient, Clinical Guideline – Breathlessness- management in the palliative paediatric patient and Clinical Guideline – Sharing Significant news about end of life in paediatrics are intended to assist clinicians in making informed decisions regarding the assessment and management of a variety of conditions affecting children and young people. They are designed for use in healthcare settings and should be applied by qualified healthcare professionals only.

These guidelines are not intended for use by patients, parents, or community members without the involvement of a healthcare professional.

The clinical guidelines are designed to provide practical, evidence-informed advice for rapid familiarization with clinical problems. They are not comprehensive textbooks and do not include extensive explanatory material. Development has involved multidisciplinary teams of practising clinicians, incorporating available literature, clinical consensus, and expert contributions, including those from the Shaping the Future of Paediatric Palliative Care Project.

Recommendations within these guidelines do not indicate an exclusive course of action or define a standard of care. Clinical decisions especially drug doses should always be informed by individual patient needs, professional judgment, and local circumstances, including facility resources.

Every effort has been made by Palliative Care Australia to ensure that the information, including drug dosages, is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Palliative Care Australia does not guarantee and accepts no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of the clinical guidelines. Nothing contained in the clinical guidelines is intended to be used as legal or medical advice and is not a substitute for professional advice.

We encourage you to exercise your own skill and care, and undertake your own research to verify all clinical information via independent, current sources.

Links to external websites are included for convenience only and do not imply endorsement by Palliative Care Australia of the content or services offered by those sites.