Ethical Issues in Pediatric Nephrology

A diagnosis of kidney disease impacts a child, their family, and potentially their community. While sometimes acute, kidney disease is often chronic with lasting effects and requiring significant treatments. The complexity and chronicity of pediatric kidney disease raises ethical challenges for pediatric nephrologists, children, and their families. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the principles of biomedical ethics and the best interest standard and harm principle in medical decision-making for children with kidney disease. We will highlight the unique ethical issues that arise among the youngest patients and adolescents nearing adulthood. Finally, we will consider issues of justice within practice of pediatric nephrology.