Adequacy of therapeutic effort: Challenges in pediatrics

Abstract

The term “therapeutic limitation” has been replaced by “adequacy of therapeutic effort” and is defined as the decision to withhold or withdraw diagnostic and therapeutic measures in response to the patient’s condition, avoiding potentially inappropriate behaviors and redirectong treatment goals towards comfort and well-being. In the pediatric population, this decision is even more challenging given the nature of the physician-patient-family relationship and the paucity of guidelines to address treatment goals. The adequacy of therapeutic effort is framed by ethical and legal principles, but, in practice, there are several challenges. Each adequacy process is unique and dynamic, and should be addressed by taking into account with what measures, how, when, and in whom it should be implemented.