Diagnostic Uncertainty and Ethical Dilemmas in Medically Complex Pediatric Patients and Psychiatric Boarders

摘要

Pediatric hospitalists face many patients with diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainty. Confronted with this issue, they may question their obligation to continue treatment plans they do not agree with or are not comfortable providing. Additionally, hospitalists manage an increasing number of patients with psychiatric disease, as the lack of intensive psychiatric services has placed a greater burden of behavioral problems on inpatient care wards. We offer the following case to consider the ethical obligations of the hospitalist to continue an outside provider's treatment plan and how to provide the best care of complicated psychiatric patients without a disposition.