Medico-legal issues for intensivists caring for children in a District General Hospital. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griffiths, Sian; Danbury, Christopher
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Intensive Care Society. Volume 16:Number 2(2015:May)
• Page Start: 137
• Page End: 141
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Medico-legal -- law -- paediatric -- district general hospital -- intensive care; Critical care medicine -- Periodicals; Intensive care units -- Periodicals; 616.028
• DOI: 10.1177/1751143714568543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-1437

Abstract

Anaesthetists and intensivists are often called upon to assist with the care of acutely unwell children presenting to district general hospitals. Treatment is usually provided with the consent of a parent but it may be required to treat the child using the doctrine of necessity. In this article we discuss aspects of the law, as it relates to children, to enable teams, who predominately treat sick adults, understand the legal framework surrounding the treatment of sick children.