Palliative care in neurodisability and genetic disease — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10)

A nine-year-old with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy and recurrent aspiration is admitted for the third PICU stay this year. There is no documented advance care plan; parents are exhausted and a younger sibling is missing school to help at home. ^{[1] [2]}

a) Define the core problem in one sentence and state the governing ethical standard. (3 marks) ^[1]

b) Outline the classification axes you would use and why they change management. (3 marks) ^{[1] [2]}

c) List the red flags that would force senior, ethics or court escalation. (2 marks) ^[1]

d) Document the key elements you would write in the clinical record after the family meeting. (2 marks) ^[2]