Advance care planning for paediatric patients.

Medical and technological advances have increased survival rates and enhanced the quality of life for infants, children and youths with chronic life-threatening conditions. Advance care planning includes the process of discussing life-sustaining treatments and establishing long-term care goals. Paediatric health care practitioners have an ethical obligation to educate themselves about this aspect of medical care. The present statement aims to assist health care practitioners to discuss advance care planning for paediatric patients in varied settings. Advance care planning requires effective communication to clarify the goals of care and establish agreement on what treatments may or may not be appropriate to achieve these goals, including resuscitative and palliative measures.