Paliatívna medicína a liečba bolesti 1/2009

Decision-making for therapy of tumor disease with an uncertain prognosis and communication with adolescent (case report)

Decision-making about further therapy in seriously ill adolescent with tumor disease with an uncertain prognosis is a process demanding time and good communication skill. We cannot avoid the team discussion about prognosis and therapy options for the ill child if we want to keep out providing of contradictory information to adolescents and their parents by different physicians. Involving adolescent in decision-making process, especially in those situations when adolescent does not agree with proposed treatment, is the corner stone of success. It is also important to be able support them without regard to their decision. They should not feel to be let alone in their decision-making.

Keywords: decision-making, adolescent, communication.