Considering quality of life in end-of-life decisions for severely disabled children

Abstract

BackgroundEnd-of-life decisions (EoLDs) are very difficult to make. How parents and physicians incorporate quality of life (QoL) considerations into their end-of-life decision making (EoLDM) for children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) remains unknown. AimsTo determine which elements contribute to QoL according to parents and physicians, how QoL is incorporated into EoLDM and how parents and physicians discuss QoL considerations in the Netherlands. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with the physicians and parents of 14 children with PIMD for whom an EoLD had been made within the past two years. ResultsParents and physicians agreed on the main elements that contribute to QoL in children with PIMD. The way in which QoL was incorporated differed slightly for different types of decisions. Parents and physicians rarely discussed elements contributing to the child’s QoL when making EoLDS. Conclusionsand Implications Although QoL was highly important during EoLDM for children with PIMD, parents and physicians did not fully explore the elements that contribute to the child’s QoL when they made EoLDs. We recommend the development of a communication tool that will help parents and physicians discuss elements that contribute to QoL and the consequences these elements have for upcoming decisions.