Oncopediatric palliative care

Abstract

Palliative Care in children and adolescents with cancer has become a great challenge in current times, not only because of the mortality and morbidity statistics, but also because of the great experience of suffering that it can lead to for patients, their parents and relatives, as well as for the staff that provide health services. The adequate preparation for professional performance within the framework of a humanized medicine constitutes a challenge; Lack of competencies are recognized for their intervention by the work teams. The objectives of this chapter are to describe some barriers and challenges of this care in Latin American countries, as well as to frame the main functions and areas of intervention with the aim of minimizing experiences of suffering, adequate control of symptoms, and preserving or potentiating Health-Related Quality of Life from a bioethical approach.