The invisible man. Artificial insemination by donor and the legislation on donor anonymity: a review.
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Until recently, sperm donors have remained anonymous under the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act. There has been a distinct international trend towards allowing children access to identifying information about their donor. The UK has followed and, subject to parliamentary approval, children born by donations made after 1 April 2005 will be legally entitled to information revealing the identity of their donor. The lifelong well-being of the child created must be the prime consideration in any reform of the law. (+info)
Should selecting saviour siblings be banned?
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By using tissue typing in conjunction with preimplantation genetic diagnosis doctors are able to pick a human embryo for implantation which, if all goes well, will become a "saviour sibling", a brother or sister capable of donating life-saving tissue to an existing child. This paper addresses the question of whether this form of selection should be banned and concludes that it should not. Three main prohibitionist arguments are considered and found wanting: (a) the claim that saviour siblings would be treated as commodities; (b) a slippery slope argument, which suggests that this practice will lead to the creation of so-called "designer babies"; and (c) a child welfare argument, according to which saviour siblings will be physically and/or psychologically harmed. (+info)
Consumerism in healthcare can be detrimental to child health: lessons from children with functional abdominal pain.
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AIMS: To determine prognostic indicators in children with severe functional abdominal pain (FAP) and to test the hypothesis that "healthcare consumerism" in these families might be deleterious to the child. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a cohort of 23 children aged <16 years fulfilling the Rome II diagnostic criteria for FAP during the period December 1997 to February 2001. Poor outcome was defined as continued pain and failure to return to normal functioning >12 months after onset. RESULTS: Poor outcome was associated with refusal to engage with psychological services, involvement of more than three consultants, lodging of a manipulative complaint with hospital management by the child's family, and lack of development of insight into psychosocial influences on symptoms. Three of four adverse prognostic indicators reflected healthcare consumerism by the families. CONCLUSIONS: Actions of families who lack insight into their child's illness may perpetuate FAP in childhood. A culture of parental consumerism in healthcare, however well intentioned, needs to be accompanied by robust systems to protect the interests of the child. (+info)
Pediatric use of complementary therapies: ethical and policy choices.
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OBJECTIVE: Many pediatricians and parents are beginning to integrate use of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies with conventional care. This article addresses ethical and policy issues involving parental choices of CAM therapies for their children. METHODS: We conducted a literature search to assess existing law involving parental choice of CAM therapies for their children. We also selected a convenience sample of 18 states of varying sizes and geographic locations. In each state, we inquired within the Department of Health and Human Services whether staff were aware of (1) any internal policies concerning these issues or (2) any cases in the previous 5 years in which either (a) the state initiated proceedings against parents for using CAM therapies for their children or (b) the department received telephone calls or other information reporting abuse and neglect in this domain. We asked the American Academy of Pediatrics and the leading CAM professional organizations concerning any relevant, reported cases. RESULTS: Of the 18 state Departments of Health and Human Services departments surveyed, 6 reported being aware of cases in the previous 5 years. Of 9 reported cases in these 6 states, 3 involved restrictive dietary practices (eg, limiting children variously to a watermelon or raw foods diet), 1 involved dietary supplements, 3 involved children with terminal cancer, and 2 involved religious practices rather than CAM per se. None of the professional organizations surveyed had initiated proceedings or received telephone calls regarding abuse or neglect concerning parental use of CAM therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric use of CAM therapies raises complex issues. Clinicians, hospitals, state agencies, courts, and professional organizations may benefit from a policy framework to help guide decision making. (+info)
Shopping-cart-related injuries to children. Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Shopping cart-related injuries to children are common and can result in severe injury or even death. Most injuries result from falls from carts or cart tip-overs, and injuries to the head and neck represent three fourths of cases. The current US standard for shopping carts should be revised to include clear and effective performance criteria to prevent falls from carts and cart tip-overs. Pediatricians have an important role as educators, researchers, and advocates to promote the prevention of these injuries. (+info)
Collaborating to combat childhood obesity.
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Despite outstanding advances in children's health over the past several decades, rates of childhood obesity are near epidemic proportions. This paper highlights foundations' efforts to fight childhood obesity by convening organizations and effecting change at many levels of the community. (+info)
The intimidation of British pediatricians.
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British pediatricians who diagnose and treat child abuse cases have come under attack by the British press and by parents who have been investigated for possible abuse. Now the General Medical Council also is intimidating these pediatricians. The General Medical Council is the licensing authority for physicians in the United Kingdom. This has resulted in fewer pediatricians being willing to care for abused children or to testify in child abuse cases. In the United States, the recent recognition of the pediatric subspecialty of child abuse pediatrics should help set standards for child abuse medical evaluation and testimony. (+info)
Maltreatment of children with disabilities.
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Widespread efforts are being made to increase awareness and provide education to pediatricians regarding risk factors of child abuse and neglect. The purpose of this clinical report is to ensure that children with disabilities are recognized as a population that is also at risk of maltreatment. Some conditions related to a disability can be confused with maltreatment. The need for early recognition and intervention of child abuse and neglect in this population, as well as the ways that a medical home can facilitate the prevention and early detection of child maltreatment, are the subject of this report. (+info)