The "best interest of the child" standard is central to both pediatric bioethics and the child rights community. In pediatric bioethics in the United States, the best interest of the child standard is cited as the guidance principle for parental decision-making.1 Likewise, in the child rights community, the best interest of the child standard is "of paramount consideration" ). Both approaches also recognize parental rights and responsibilities and support a role for the maturing child in the decision-making process. Why, then, (...) do members of the pediatric bioethics community and the child rights communities not speak the same language?This article was developed out of... (shrink)

In the fast-paced world of clinical medicine, recognizing and acknowledging differences in worldviews is often overlooked. When dealing with the delicate issues broached in advance care planning, such oversights can lead to deep rifts within the health care provider-patient relationship. By providing guidance to those engaged in such endeavors and setting advance care planning in a global context, health care practitioners will be better able to care for their patients and achieve the noble goal of advance care planning_giving volume to (...) the voice of the patient in the last chapter of her life. (shrink)