Karel-Bart Celie, Joseph W Mocharnuk, Ulrick S Kanmounye, Ruben Ayala, Tahmina Banu, Kokila Lakhoo
The paradigm of values adopted by the global health community has a palpable, albeit often unseen, impact on patient health care. In this Viewpoint, we investigate an inherent tension in the core values of medical ethics and clinical practice that could explain why paediatric health care faces resource constraints despite compelling economic and societal imperatives to prioritise child health and wellbeing. The dominant narrative in the philosophy of medicine tends to disproportionately underscore values of independence and self-determination, which becomes problematic in the context of paediatric patients, who by their very nature epitomise vulnerability and dependence...
February 23, 2024: Lancet Child & Adolescent Health