This article considers some of the challenging situations that healthcare staff may encounter when there are tensions and disagreements between the family of a child and the wider professional staff. The focus is on disagreements about what some might consider futile critical care. The options available to support the healthcare team and therefore avoid litigation are explored, along with identifying situations that might need de-escalation. A CPD multiple choice quiz is also available on request.
Crawford, D et al. 2020. Equipping children's nurses to de-escalate conflict and communicate challenging information. Nursing Children and Young People, 32 (5) p 23 - 31.