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Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Surgery

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Pediatric Surgery

Abstract

Ethical issues arise in pediatric surgery when difficult decisions must be made in the presence of uncertainty or conflict, and stakeholders are concerned about quality of life, informed decision-making, and access to scarce medical resources. This chapter provides the pediatric surgeon with a framework for ethical decision-making that relies on a best interest standard and includes a definition of this standard and also the appropriate application and limitations of the best interest standard. Decision-making for adolescents includes a discussion of informed consent and assent. The best interest standard is discussed in the context of multiculturalism. Other issues include prenatal surgical consultation and fetal surgery, bariatric surgery, conflicts of interest, errors and innovation, and clinical research.

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Acknowledgments

This chapter is based on a previous published chapter – Glover, Jacqueline and Caniano, Donna. Ethical Considerations in Newborn Surgery in Newborn Surgery 3rd edition, Prem Puri editor. pages 228–236. CRC Press, November 2011.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and The Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA

    Jacqueline J. Glover

  2. Department of Surgery, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA

    Benedict C. Nwomeh

  3. Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

    Benedict C. Nwomeh

Authors
  1. Jacqueline J. Glover
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  2. Benedict C. Nwomeh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacqueline J. Glover .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, National Children’s Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland

    Prem Puri

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Glover, J.J., Nwomeh, B.C. (2019). Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Surgery. In: Puri, P. (eds) Pediatric Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_34-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_34-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-38482-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-38482-0

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Surgery
    Published:
    31 August 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_34-2

  2. Original

    Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Surgery
    Published:
    03 March 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_34-1

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