Referral of pediatric oncology patients for marrow transplantation and the process of informed consent

✍ Scribed by Chauvenet, Allen R. ;Smith, Nancy M.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 438 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0098-1532
• DOI: 10.1002/mpo.2950160110

✦ Synopsis

A survey of 24 pediatric oncologists from 21 institutions not performing bone marrow transplants found that 156 patients were referred for transplants in the years 1984/85; only 10 of these patients were not transplanted. No patient in good clinical condition whose disease was under control was denied transplantation after evaluation at a transplant center. The decision for transplantation was made by the families and the referring pediatric oncologists, almost always before the patient was seen at a transplant center. The fact that almost all patient and family evaluations at transplant centers take place after a family has decided to have a marrow transplant has obvious implications regarding informed consent. Referring pediatric oncologists must attempt to provide the best possible information to families when decisions regarding marrow transplantation are actually being made.