A difficult decision, illuminated

Parents of children with complex medical problems face many difficult decisions, and these touchpoints persist even after initial diagnosis and stabilization. One of the most fraught is whether to pursue tracheostomy. The context is usually one of worsening clinical status; the caregivers may feel this represents an unanticipated progression of disease or an irrevocable step limiting future options. Many times the child is acutely ill, leading to a sense that there is really no choice at all. In view of this, the study by Nageswaran et al in this volume of The Journal provides invaluable insight into the lived experience of families dealing with this issue.

https://ift.tt/2TtjWvZ