These choices are different for every child and may need to be revised if your child’s condition changes. It may be helpful to talk to your partner about what you would want if your child deteriorated suddenly. These are difficult decisions and parents do not always agree on what they want to do. If you have different views, it may be helpful to speak with a member of your care team who can help answer questions and offer support.
While there are many things we cannot control, there are important choices that can be made about the care of a child with a life-limiting illness. Parents share the difficult task of making these decisions with the help of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals.
Sometimes health professionals and parents are unsure how to raise the question of decision making. Signalling to your child’s doctor that you are ready to talk about some of the more difficult aspects of the illness and its treatment can help facilitate important discussions.
It is often helpful to think about and discuss what the best approach would be if your child were to deteriorate suddenly. This is called advance care planning.
When a child cannot be cured of their illness, or when a cure is extremely unlikely, the focus of care may shift. This may involve attempting to prolong the child’s life for as long as possible, or ensuring the time that remains is as full of life and happiness as it can possibly be. Sometimes there is a choice to be made between length of life and quality of life.
Prolonging life or pursuing a cure, when this is unlikely, nearly always comes with pros and cons and parents can find themselves torn. Do you leave no stone unturned in the search for a cure or do you ensure your child does not suffer? These can seem impossible choices and different families may make different decisions when faced with identical circumstances.
Palliative care, including the management of pain and other symptoms, can be combined with ongoing treatments to cure your child’s disease or prolong their life, if those treatments are considered to be in the best interests of the child.
There may be many treatments that are possible, however distinguishing between what could be done and what should be done is important. What are the benefits and burdens of the various treatments? Only the individual child or those who know and love them can know what a burden is and what a benefit to them is. For example, some children feel frightened and distressed when they are in hospital, while others feel safe and may even enjoy the activities on offer there.
The key word here is ‘process’. Where circumstances allow, take time to seek information, to think, and to talk with experts and with friends and relatives.
Meet with the health professionals involved in your child’s care and ask questions. You may need to ask the same question a few times to completely understand the answers. It may also be helpful for you to see test results or scans. You can also ask the care team to explain things to you in a different way or to write them down if you do not understand. If English is not your first language ask for an interpreter.
Talk together as parents. You may not always see things the same way so it is important to respect each other’s views and continue talking.
Seek support from family, friends, and from your community. There may be key individuals who are of special value to you. It’s okay to ask if they can be included in discussions with the care team.
Once important decisions are made, it’s essential that everyone involved or likely to be involved in your child’s care is informed. Many hospitals and palliative care services have documents where these decisions are recorded. This does not necessarily mean the decision is legally binding. Decisions and plans will need to be reviewed as your child’s condition changes.
Even in circumstances where there seems to be no hope for a child’s survival, many parents find they simply cannot accept it. In their head they understand, but in their heart remains hope. This is okay and hoping for the best while preparing for the worst may be a helpful way to approach the situation. Hope can also be refocused on goals such as going home, comfort, or time.
Families may wish to do something special all together to capture memories. While every family’s wishes are unique, some common requests are: bringing their child home; going on a special holiday or outing or taking photos together as a family.
We recognise and acknowledge those who are working through Sorry Business, Sad News, grief and bereavement and offer our condolences and support.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this website may contain images, videos and voices of people who have passed on. Some of the content and topics covered might also cause distress. You are welcome here, and we want you to feel safe and take care.
If you find that you need support please reach out to 13YARN on 13 92 76, Grief Australia, Grief Line on 1300 845 745, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Palliative Care Australia is located in Canberra. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the surrounding land and waters, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri Peoples and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that same respect and acknowledge the continuing cultures and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across Australia.
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