Children’s Rights

As Meyer Hillman of the Policy Studies Institute in London once wrote, “First and foremost, a steady, albeit unwitting erosion of children's rights to a safe and clean environment beyond the boundaries of their home needs to be highlighted.” This concern extends to the medical domain, where every child has the fundamental right to equal access to appropriate care, as reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 3, which calls for ensuring healthy lives and equitable access to healthcare for all.

 

Clinical decisions should be guided by the principle of proportionality—assessing each child individually—rather than relying on generalized statistics that may prematurely limit treatment options. Ensuring that children are not automatically directed toward palliative pathways without thorough consideration is essential to upholding their rights and dignity.