The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Canada's first PICU opened in 1968. Today, the units exist across the country and offer a multitude of sophisticated life-sustaining treatments.

In these high-pressure environments, physicians coordinate large multidisciplinary teams. When ethical issues arise and are not successfully resolved, it can affect PICU health professionals and the care they give.

Team members must cope with the fact that many children die and others have lasting disabilities subsequent to treatment. Questions of futility, consent, and the quality of life of young patients challenge the PICU team daily.

Poor communication among team members often complicates these issues. Individuals may wonder whether the "right thing" has been done. Professionals may feel they have participated in unethical actions or were unable to prevent them: this can result in moral distress.