Supporting children at end-of-life

Pediatric end-of-life care is inherently challenging. When a child is dying, it's normal to have a range of emotions. It may feel as though the "natural order of things" has been disrupted, or it may feel as though we have not achieved our original treatment goals. It's no wonder that it can be difficult to communicate during pediatric end-of-life care. Importantly, though, research and clinical experience with families indicate that candid, compassionate communication is important to end-of-life care, especially in pediatrics. Here are some tips for working with children during end-of-life care.