Reflections on seriously ill and dying children and adolescents

Public discourse on end-of-life issues involving children and adolescents is often non-existent because of the perception that dying in childhood and adolescence is a rare event, except, perhaps, for premature infants. Yet, every day, families face the death of their children and adolescents, from both chronic and acute conditions. Increased awareness of the developmental and ethical issues facing young patients and their families would assist those caring for them medically and pastorally.