THE END OF THE LIFE OF A CHILD WITH AIDS

Experience with an eight-year-old AIDS patient suggests that handling the death of a child requires careful evaluation and appropriate thera py of pain and discomfort; a high level of competence and communicatio n among health care providers; a tightly-woven supportive network conn ecting the hospital to the home; a commitment to adhere faithfully to the wishes and needs expressed by the child and his or her mother; and development by the family and health care team of a well-defined mana gement plan.