Guidelines for assistance to terminally ill children with cancer: A reportof the SIOP Working Committee on Psychosocial Issues in Pediatric Oncology

This, the sixth official document of the SIOP Working Committee on psychoso cial issues in pediatric oncology, develops another important and especiall y difficult topic: assistance for terminally ill children with cancer. This is provided for the pediatric oncology community as a useful set of guidel ines. It should be always possible for a declining child to die without unn ecessary physical pain, fear, or anxiety. It is essential that he or she re ceive adequate medical, spiritual, and psychological support, and that the child at no point feels abandoned. Palliative care, in the terminal phase o f cancer, should be tailored to the different needs and desires of the the child and the family, with the goal of providing the best possible quality of life for the days that remain. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 32:44-48, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.