IAHPC BOOK REVIEW

PALLIATIVE CARE FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND ADOLESCENTS

A Practical Handbook

Brian S. Carter and Marcia Levetown (Eds)

Johns Hopkins University Press 2004
399 pp
ISBN 0-8018-8005-X
RRP $US29.95, £21.50.
More Info & Purchase

In her Foreword, Dr. Kathleen Foley describes this volume as a ‘brilliant clinical handbook’ that ‘is a compendium of educational material uniquely edited to facilitate health care professionals’ understanding of how to think about, talk with, and practice caring for, the seriously ill child with competency and compassion.’  I agree.

The book is divided into three main sections.  The first deals with societal and institutional issues, the second with the practicalities of making holistic pediatric palliative care work, and the last with special patient populations including genetic conditions, HIV infection, and cancer.

With the exception of the chapter on health care professionals’ stress and care giver suffering, each chapter is written by multiple members of the interdisciplinary team, providing real insight into the way holistic pediatric palliative care should work.  Numerous short case reports are effectively woven into the test.  Anyone involved with pediatric palliative care will benefit from reading this book.

Highly recommended.

Roger Woodruff,
Director of Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
(July 2005)

Author Information

Brian S. Carter is Associate Professor, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Marcia Levetown is Program Director for Palliative Care, The Methodist Hospital, Huoston, Texas, USA.

Table of Contents

Part I – Societal and Institution Issues

1. Epidemiology and Health Services Research
2. Goals, Values and Conflict Resolution
3. Barriers, Education and Advocacy in Palliative Care

Part II – The Cycle of Care

4. Decision Making in Pediatric Palliative Care
5. Communication at the End of Life
6. Psychosocial and Spiritual Needs of the Child and Family
7. Holistic Management of Symptoms
8. Bereavement
9. The Other Side of Caring: Care Giver Suffering

Part III – Special Care Environments and Patient Populations

10. The High-risk New Born
11. Palliative Care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
12. Palliative Care in the Home, School and Community
13. The Child with a Genetic Condition
14. The Child with HIV Infection
15. Children and Adolescents with Cancer

Index

 

Home

Donations

Contact Us