Adolescents with terminal cancer and personal autonomy a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Cancer is increasing regardless of age, including teenagers who are confronted with death in a moment that they are already experiencing a transitional phase. The perception of death is a personal experience that varies during the stages of human development and through their specific features. For all the ages, the concept of dying with dignity means respecting personal autonomy, that despite being a bioethics principle, not always is taken into account by parents and health professionals. To place this issue into a current scientific perspective we undertook a systematic review study, using meta-synthesis approach and PICO methodology. It was found that young with terminal illness need planning their health care by their own and with parents and health professionals, taking into account physical and emotional aspects as well as their ethical cultural and spiritual values. It is believed that the major challenge to health teams is to promote the attitudes changing in order to entirely abandon the paternalistic view.