@article{ref1,
title="Attitudes of adolescent cancer survivors toward end-of-life decisions for minors",
journal="Pediatrics",
year="2009",
author="Pousset, Geert and Bilsen, Johan J. R. and De Wilde, Joke and Benoit, Yves and Verlooy, Joris and Bomans, An and Deliens, Luc and Mortier, Freddy",
volume="124",
number="6",
pages="e1142-8",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the attitudes of adolescent cancer survivors toward end-of-life decisions with life-shortening effects, including nontreatment decisions (NTDs), intensified alleviation of pain and symptoms (APS), and euthanasia, and the influence of illness experience on these attitudes. METHODS: Adolescent cancer survivors were interviewed with a structured questionnaire using hypothetical case descriptions. The results were compared with a study of 1769 adolescents without experience of chronic illness. RESULTS: Eighty-three adolescents, 11 to 18 years of age, were interviewed. In terminal situations, 70% to 90% found requests for NTDs acceptable, 84% requests for APS, and 57% to 64% requests for euthanasia. Requests for end-of-life decisions were less acceptable in nonterminal situations, where 28% found requests for NTDs acceptable, 39% to 47% requests for APS, and 11% to 21% requests for euthanasia. Frequently cited reasons for holding back physicians from administering a lethal drug to a child were the child not being well informed about his or her condition (92%) and the parents' opinion not being asked (92%). Compared with adolescents without experience with chronic illness, cancer survivors were more accepting toward requests for NTDs and APS in terminal situations. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent cancer survivors, like other adolescents, want to be involved in medical decision-making at the end of life. They value autonomous decision-making, without excluding parents from the process. The experience of living through a life-threatening illness can alter adolescents' attitudes toward requests for NTDs and APS.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0031-4005",
doi="10.1542/peds.2009-0621",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-0621"
}