Respecting Parent’s Cultural Beliefs or Saving Child’s Life: an Ethical Dilemma Surrounding Blood Transfusion

Shela Akbar Ali Hirani*

Received: January 12, 2018;   Published: January 24, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/PAPN.2018.01.000104

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Abstract

Refusal to a medically justified treatment based on cultural beliefs is one of those challenging situations that raise several ethical, moral and legal issues in the health care settings, especially in pediatric settings. This paper presents a case scenario involving a minor who required a blood transfusion, however, the cultural beliefs of child’s surrogate decision makers were against the recommended medical treatment. In view of the clinical scenario, this paper proposes positions that can be considered while encountering similar scenario and shares recommendations to improve the handling of ethical dilemmas in clinical settings.

Keywords: Pediatric setting; Ethical dilemma; Minor; Surrogate decision making; Best interest

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