Presenter: A/Professor Lynn Gillam
Synopsis: In the 7 years since the clinical ethics case referral service at RCH began, we have received over 80 referrals, and we have a learned a lot about how to understand and resolve ethical challenges in paediatric health care. One of the most common reasons for referral is disagreement between the treating team and parents about a child’s medical treatment or other aspects of management, such as telling the truth to the child. In working with treating teams to deal with these situations, we have developed the concept of the ‘zone of parental discretion’ as tool for ethical deliberation. In this presentation, I will explain the meaning and significance of the Zone of Parental Discretion, and, using a range of case examples, invite discussion of the concept.
Speaker: Assoc Prof Lynn Gillam is the Clinical Ethicist and Academic Director of the Children’s Bioethics Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital. She also has a teaching appointment in health ethics in the School of Population Health, University of Melbourne.