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Ethical issues in the care of adolescent and young adult oncology patients
Author(s) -
Sisk Bryan A.,
Canavera Kristin,
Sharma Akshay,
Baker Justin N.,
Johnson LizaMarie
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.27608
Subject(s) - medicine , abandonment (legal) , fertility preservation , autonomy , oncofertility , maturity (psychological) , young adult , pace , pediatric oncology , family medicine , fertility , cancer , oncology , gerontology , developmental psychology , psychology , population , environmental health , geodesy , political science , law , geography
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer leads to short‐term and long‐term challenges for every patient. This is especially true for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer who strive to gain independence, autonomy, confidence, and social status while developing into adulthood. In this article, we review prominent ethical issues in AYA oncology that are related to autonomy, shared decision‐making, care refusal or abandonment, end‐of‐life care, truth telling, and fertility preservation. Clinicians should recognize that AYA patients develop at their own pace; the onus lies with clinicians to determine the patient's interests, values, maturity, and desire to participate in decision‐making.